Your home based business needs you to think and act like the CEO .
In my last post Online Marketing – Do It Yourself or Done for You? I asked the question whether you like to do things yourself or have them done for you. If you have not read it I suggest you do as this is a follow up. I was asking the question in relation to online marketing.
In the main most people who left a comment were
- a mixture of both Do it yourself and done for you.
- Some were much more inclined to do things themselves and others outsource the areas they do not enjoy.
- For some people outsourcing is not an option right now because of financial considerations and that is understandable.
- Some people just like to do everything themselves.
It occurred to me as I responded to the comments that no matter how little or much we outsource we still need to approach our business as the CEO.
For most of us that have a home based business we are the CEO, Sales Manager, Marketing Manager and all the rest of the roles down to the most junior employee. What is important is that we think like the CEO – the person in charge of the business and not the junior employee.
Be The CEO Of Your Home Based Business
I know many people who start a home based business have been employees all their life and they think like employees. You are now the CEO and need to learn to think like one. I know you have to do all those other tasks too but it is important how you think. Do not get so bogged down in tasks that you forget the big picture.
For me it is almost the reverse. I was the CEO of a couple of different businesses before I started working from home. I found it difficult to have no one to delegate to. It took me a while but as I worked out what I really did not want to do I started to outsource.
Most people who commented on my last post agreed they cannot do everything themselves in their business.
How do you – Be the CEO of your Home Based Business ?
The CEO is in charge and is responsible for the performance and success of the business. In a corporation he or she does not do everything themselves but oversees the business.
In our home based business, unlike the CEO of a corporation, we do not have other people to report to us so how do we act like a CEO?
We begin by thinking like a business owner and CEO. We may have to do many of the other roles ourselves in the beginning but how we think is critical.
Donna Merrill talks about “positioning” here in her article called Take Ownership Of Your Online Business I suggest you have a read.
What skills does a CEO have that you can develop?
- Leadership – this is a skill set you can learn. There are countless books on the subject. I particularly love reading autobiographies of entrepreneurs I respect such as Steve Jobs and Richard Branson.
- Business planning- again you can learn this and if you do not know how then find a coach or mentor. Or you can join a mastermind group and learn to brainstorm.
- Educate yourself about business in general.
- Know what is important to your business success and don’t get buried in detail
- Communication skills are critical for your business
- People skills
And I am sure there are more traits and skills but just make a start on thinking like the business owner. If you are unsure ask yourself the question “am I thinking like a CEO or an employee?”
Please leave me a comment below on Be The CEO Of Your Home Based Business. Do you think like a CEO and business owner?
If you found this post of value please share it on social media.
Sue Price
Skype: sueprice
Click here to work with me personally
PS
I am very excited to be part of an amazing group of online marketers who really do offer a “done for you” system.
Manny says
Nice post Sue. Anyway, I would also like to add something very important (I think). A CEO/Owner/Manager should establish a good work relationship with his or her employees. Relationship between the employer and employees is very important.
Sue Price says
H Manny
Thanks for your feedback on the post. Absolutely I agree with you that the CEO needs to have a good working relationship with his/her team. Thanks for adding that as it is very important.
You have a great day
Sue
Sylviane Nuccio says
Hi Sue,
Well, it always impresses me that you’ve been a CEO, not only of your online business, but in a corporation. I wish I could say the same 🙂
I think that by following your tips, anyone can train themselves to become the CEO of their home based business. That may seem like a lot to learn, but it’s all worth it.
Thank you for this good explaination.
Sue Price says
Hi Sylviane
I know it sounds impressive being a CEO and I am glad I have had that experience but I would not want to go back there again. It is very stressful. Especially when you have big overheads and salaries to pay. I loved it but also my family time and relationships were suffering.
I do believe people can learn these skills – I did 🙂
Thanks for your comment Sylviane.
Sue
Adrienne says
You know Sue this took me a long time to understand. I mean I came from corporate America where I was of course an employee. I always had a high work ethic but at the same time I was given work to do. I had to finally understand that I am my own boss now and there is no one giving me instructions and if I don’t do the work and get the results then I’m not getting paid. Now that’s no fun for anyone.
Most of my friends think it would really be cool to work at home but they admit that they couldn’t do it. They don’t have the drive or ambition and certainly can’t motivate themselves to stick with this.
Most of us have not had the finances to outsource a lot of work but there are ways around everything so I’ve learned. There are just certain things we do not know how to do so we have to reach out to others. I still wouldn’t give this up for the world although it’s not easy having your own business or being the boss. It’s sure worth it though.
Thanks for this post and I enjoyed Donna’s as well.
~Adrienne
Sue Price says
Hi Adrienne
I know it must have been a real learning curve for you. It is stepping into a different way of thinking – but hey you did stick with it and you did do it very well.
No having your own business and being the boss is not easy. It is anything but easy but I agree it is worth it. I think your friends are representative of most people. You need discipline and motivation to do this that is for sure. Some people like to be employees.
I agree not many people start a home based business with the resources to outsource. It is the same in transitional brick and mortar business too. Not many people start with a lot of capital so employing people is always a huge decision and one that used to make me nervous. When we had about 70 employees between two businesses at one stage our salary bill was so big I could not sleep sometimes worrying.
I loved Donna’s post too and it actually gave me the idea to write this one. 🙂
I hope you are having a nice weekend.
Thanks for your comment Adrienne
Sue
Dan Black says
What a great post! No matter how small or big are business or online platform we have to think and act like the CEO of it. I personally believe one of the greatest things a person can do to have a CEO mindset is to learn how to increase our leadership and business skills. Great post.
Sue Price says
Hi Dan
I agree with you.Leadership and business skills are so important no matter how big our business online. Your site is a great resource for people and I should have had a link in my post to your site.
Thanks for your comment Dan
Sue
Silviu says
Hi Sue,
It is not funny to be your own boss. Not funny at all. I agree. This needs a huge change in people’s mindset. People are used to have somebody to give them something to work and supervise the work and the results.
Freedom is tough and painful at the beginning. Requires a lot of effort and a lot of pain. That’s why most people prefer to be employees.
BUT if you keep going, keep trying, learn, make mistakes etc., sooner or later the whole CEO thinking emerges. Things started to settle down in your mind. You will get used to think like a CEO and you know what? You will begin to like it.
Later you will ask yourself: “How was I able to live as an employee? I don’t get it.”
That is the moment when you start to understand freedom. That is the moment when you start to live.
Have a nice day
Sue Price says
Hi Silviu
Wow you said that so well. Yes it is a huge change in mindset to go from employee to having your own business. I think most people do not understand what it is going to take and that is why so many people quit or as you say stay employees.
I used to be in a business where we ran mentoring programs for women who were just starting out in business. They were paired with an expedience woman in business. It used to amaze me the reasons people were giving for starting their business. Things like I can take lots of time off, I can do what I want when I want, I hate my boss so I am starting my own business. None of these reasons of course are true or good reasons to start a business.
Your point if you keep going and learn from the mistakes etc you will get to the other side. I agree that is when we can have the freedom and start to live.
Thanks Silviu for a great comment and you have a nice day too.
Sue
Barbara Charles says
Hi Sue,
I think most people think like business owners (and that’s even a different mindset than the average day worker). Still takes time to even make that adjustment.
I think the problem with success or failure for people who own their own businesses, is that many people are not cut out to be the CEO of their own businesses. They don’t have the right mindset. They don’t think like leaders, do business plans, get educated, etc or any of the things you have listed above. It is a super important reason why so many home-start of work at home businesses fail. Sad but true.
So your article is great because it educates people as to what they really need to do to succeed as a business owner.
Great job and great post.
Barbara
Sue Price says
Hi Barbara
For many years when I was an accountant I used to wish people had to get some sort of license before they go into business. We need one to drive a car so why do people think they can just start a business and know what to do. As you say most do not do business plans etc.
At least with a home based business we are not outlaying huge amounts of money to pay rents and other expenses. The skills needed to run a business can be learned but as we know most people do not learn them. Sometimes it is a matter of just not knowing what they do not know.
Thanks for your comment Barbara. Hope you are having a great weekend.
Sue
Donna Merrill says
I loved this subject Sue!
We need to have that CEO mindset. When we do, we can give those tasks, no matter how small to others. I think I have gotten to a point of CEO mindset that I just cannot deal with anything petty anymore.
I was at my cardiologist this morning and waited one half hour. That’s it! My time is not worth it. So I went to the receptionist and said I was leaving. Shock filled the office. I explained to the three office gals that ran toward me like I was an escaped criminal that their business wasn’t run efficiently. I had the courtesy to be on time, but now I’m at the mercy of you? I told them to re-think the way they were setting their time lines in the office and not treat it like the ER. Bam…I walked out!
Now that is part of a CEO mindset. It goes beyond how we treat our business and goes to who we do business with. After all, I’m doing business with my doctor. She is good but not OZ!
We need to have that mindset now matter where we go. Now, when you look at a corporate CEO he or she does not have the mindset to be treated any other way but that.
Do I sound like a snob? Or is my mindset getting to my head? I don’t know, but I have turned down many people who wanted to consult with me because they didn’t keep the time we set. One woman called me after I left her a message to re schedule after 15 minutes late. She said she was having her nails done at the time and was free now to talk! I told her to call someone else.
If a person cannot make the time in the first meeting, I simply discard them off the list. I guess I’m pretty hard core hum!
When I give a job to someone, they may not be up to par, but I will give them a second chance. If not, they get booted out and I hire the next person. When it comes to business, I need things running smoothly.
OK…I’ll stop my novella here but this subject is one I’m passionate about Sue.
Donna
Sue Price says
Hi Donna
I wish you could see me having just read your comment. I am laughing my head off and I so love that you walked out of the Dr’s. For years the whole medical profession has “p*****d” me off with that sort of behavior! Good on your girl!!! I have often thought of doing the same but never had the courage. You are not being a snob or anything else you are valuing your time and yourself. I love it. It is showing posture.
I think more of us should do that to these specialist guys, dentists and the like.
I cannot believe that woman who was having her nails done. How rude! You know to me not respecting someone else’s time is like not respecting them. That is how I see it anyway.
Having just lost my Dad I know how precious each and every day is so I do not want to waste any time on someone else’s crazy agenda.
Thanks for sharing your story Donna. I think you have the mindset nailed 🙂 Also thanks for inspiring me to write this post by your last one.
Hey and well done on the house.
Sue
Vijesh says
Hi Sue,
When we are doing a one man show I mean we are the owner and a single employee for our home based business what does it take to think like a CEO. when we have few employees then we can establish ourselves as a CEO but before that we need a lot of hard work and we need to establish a system and assign the duties.
But I believe thinking as a CEO from day one of our start up with single employee or all alone does create some positive attitude in us and it reminds of the responsibilities that particular words “CEO” holds. SO when we expand our business or go global we feel like a CEO but not as an employee.
I am planning over a start up and I am all alone or whole and sole entrepreneur for the project, I can be called as a CEO or employee for my start up as I need to take care of all the things from creating a business plan, executing and promoting.
So let me execute things like a CEO but not like an employee yet I need to do all the works an employee need to do.
Thanks for the skills which you have shared to be a successful CEO like leadership qualities, language skills etc which I need to develop from the beginning days of my entrepreneur journey.
Good Post Sue…
Sue Price says
Hi Vijesh
Oh yes it really is a bit of a tight rope walk when we are a one man or woman show. Your point that when we start if we have the attitude of a CEO from day one we will create a positive attitude is excellent as that is what we need. To see our business as a real business from day one.
You explained it well in your explanation of a start up – to execute like a CEO and not an employee. It is all about mindset and growing our skills.
Thanks for your comment here Vijesh I appreciate your input.
Have a successful week.
Sue
Mayura says
Hi Sue,
I always wonder how did the first successful business owner thought about his/her business with no examples and everything to refer 🙂 Yet, we can do with that mindset, eh? But may take a long time than usual.
The attitude of being the boss of your own business might be the first approach to motivate yourself to think like CEO 🙂 For me, when I headed for my own, I could turn what I’ve already learnt into that matter. AND if I didn’t know about something, I’ve learnt it from others by observing ’em. Even from a failing business 🙂
Learning from others and applying to ourselves has been always a wise decision for me 🙂 I respect them who got into hot water and shared their experiences on overcoming ’em. Like you, I really love reading real life stories without limiting to business role models ’cause leadership is always there. No I don’t wanna be like ’em though, but be myself in a better way. However now I mostly watch such movies rather than reading though 😀
I love Donna’s series as she always touch her posts with personal stories 🙂 They let us be related and open up ourselves.
You have a successful week Sue 🙂 Hope you have a lovely weather there…
Cheers…
Sue Price says
Hi Mayura
Now that is a good question how did the first business owner come about before anyone else? It would be an interesting walk down the path of history to find out. I am not sure even when the concept of formal business started. I guess people used to bata and exchange goods. But how did they perceive themselves is interesting to ponder 🙂
I agree with you that just seeing your self as the owner of your own business is the best place to start. You are a smart man Mayura – learning from others. Hey and learning from others mistakes is such a good thing to do. We do not have to go and make every mistake in the book when we can learn by observing and studying both success and failure.
I have heard it said recently we either learn from mistakes or from mentoring. Studying others for me is a form of mentoring. You are doing it wisely.
Movies are a good way to learn as well as books. Also audios are great. As long as we learn!
Yes I agree with you Donna has a some great posts on her blog and she does always share awesome stories.
You too have a successful week Mayura and thanks for your awesome comments over here.
Sue
Dee Ann Rice says
Sue,
I think some of the time I think like a CEO but others I think like and employee. I have never been the CEO of a business except my own but I had 5 children so I am pretty good at delegating. When all 5 children were at home there was no way in this world I could do everything. Especially when we were getting ready to go somewhere on a trip or camping. I became very good at delegating.
The one think I have been preaching to my son lately (he is the only one left at home so he gets delegated to alot now) is when I delegate something I assume that whatever it is is done. I think this is one place I lack as a CEO of myself. I make a list of things that need to be completed that day and then I don’t get them all done. In reality if I put things on a list they should all be completed either by myself or by delegating them.
I am getting to be more of a believer in outsourcing things. I used fiverr for several eBook covers when I was doing my product. I also finally found someone to outsource my sales page to in a sense. I had finished the sales page but Sylviane was able to totally complete it. I also outsourced all of my graphics.
The problem I have had with outsourcing is finding someone I trust to do the work. As I network more with other bloggers though I am finding people to outsource my stuff to.
Dee Ann
Sue Price says
Hi Dee Ann
I think you would have had some experience similar to a CEO with the 5 children. If you are good at delegating that is a very good start. I see you point on assuming something is done. In a true role as a CEO there would be some form of feedback. There is a real balance in delegating the role and delegating the responsibility. I learned that one along the way. If you delegate the responsibility then you do let go of the need to check and someone else is responsible. Probably easier to do in a work situation than with your son 🙂
Using fiverr is a great place to start and certainly it is a wise choice to use Sylviane. We can never do it all so we need to outsource. I agree with you in that we need to feel we can trust someone first and that is where our networking comes in.
I am looking forward to seeing your product Dee Ann.
Thanks for your comment.
Sue
Abby says
Being your own one-man army in the business can be both be an inspiration and a challenge. This is also a great way to determine and improve on your learning curve as an entrepreneur.
Sue Price says
Hi Abby
Yes it is both that – an inspiration and a challenge. Thanks for your comment.
Sue