Over the years of working as an Internet Marketer I have come to learn that it takes a lot more than just knowing the methods and strategies of Internet Marketing to run a successful Home Based Business.Most people don’t seem to talk about these things or they simply forget. So here are a few of my observations.1. You are now the boss.When you start a Home Based Business, you are the boss, so you don’t have to answer to anyone, except yourself, of course. You need to be disciplined and force yourself to do the work that needs to be done. Sure, you’re not going to get fired if you don’t do your work, but you also won’t get things done which could be the downfall of your business.Quite often people think anything goes when you work from home, but you should treat it no different than any other business, online or offline.One good idea is to figure out the time of day that is your most productive and set a work schedule for yourself. Set aside those hours and make sure you schedule in breaks. Try and stay as productive as possible during those hours and limit the work you do outside of that schedule.Stay focused and on track. Create a “to-do” list for each day. Outline tasks you’d like to have finished by the end of your work day. The feeling of accomplishment you get when you cross of an item will keep you motivated all day long.If you need inspiration for an idea or just need to take a break, get away from the computer. Quite often good money making ideas come when you’re not sitting staring at the screen. I’ve never had success by trying to force an idea and believe me, I’ve tried that.2. Your home is now your office.Create a dedicated workspace for yourself. Slouching on your couch in front of the TV, with your feet up on the coffee table working on your laptop, does not count as a workspace. Get yourself a real desk and keep it organized. Not doing this could lead to distractions which ultimately affects your work schedule. Oh, and keep it clean.Eliminate distractions before you start working. Finish up whatever small chores you need to do for the day so you don’t have to take care of them when you’re on a roll. Only do work related tasks while on your work schedule.3. Make sure you take care of yourself.If you’re not feeling well, take sick days. You’re human, and just like everybody else, you need time off to rest. Grab a blanket and take a nap on the couch. You may be capable of sitting up, but that does not mean you need to be working. Take time to rest your mind and body. Trying to work when you’re sick is only frustrating and unproductive.Speaking of staying healthy, you need to exercise. It’s easy to let yourself go when your only commute is from your bed to your computer chair. Take care of yourself and get a gym membership or at the very least spend some time walking outside. Keeping fit allows you to stay focused and energized all day.One of the hardest adjustments to make when starting a Home Based Business is dealing with being alone for extended periods of time. You need to find ways to stay social. Working alone can get depressing and having a social outlet is a vital part of success.Try and find someone local who is also working from home to meet with every now and then for lunch or to discuss ideas. At the very least, invest in a web cam and keep in touch with your friends and family through Skype. If all else fails, get a pet. Pets make the day less boring, and yes, you will start to talk to your pets.4. Don’t work 24 hours a day.Although you work at the same place that you live, you need to find a way to still keep these lives separate.Often people think they can work 12 to 14 hours per day, 7 days a week simply because they have nothing else to do. There’s no easier way to burn out than trying to work such long hours. You simply can’t stay focused and productive for so long every day.Respect the weekends and take time off on holidays. It’s okay to let an email wait until the morning. It’s okay to have a personal life. You do not have to be readily available every minute of the day.5. You get to live an awesome life.If you reach a point in your Home Based Business where you can work full time, that is amazing. It’s a very big accomplishment that very few people can achieve.People often tell me how they envy that lifestyle. No more working 10-hour days in an office building and often coming home stressed about your job, boss, deadlines, salary, or any number of things that accompany an office job. Limited to the amount of sick days you’re allowed to take! I’m forever grateful that I don’t have to deal with any of that.If you have an opportunity to start a Home Based Business, definitely give it a try. It will be challenging at first, but there’s nothing that can match the feeling of running a successful Home Based Business.So, these were just a few things I’ve learned over the years. I’m sure you have things to add to this list.

A ‘small business’ gets defined as a business that has less than 500 employees. If you are an owner of a small business, then you do not have the luxury of experimenting too much. You have a limited budget and perhaps, less than 50 employees working under you. And added to this is the excessive pressure of reaching your desired goals as quickly as possible. It does not take a rocket scientist to understand that a small business has very little time to make it big. With all the competition breathing down its neck, it has to use all its resources to their maximum potentials.So how can a small business increase its reach and influence with all its meager assets? Here are 5 ways which it can consider to enhance its authority:#1. Indulging in Speaking EngagementsA small business focuses on a certain domain, and it’s natural for its owner to have all the needed expertise. He can use his knowledge to enlighten other people like business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs and students. It actually does not matter whether the speaking engagement is free or paid. If an owner is brining himself in front of new people, then he is also brining his small business in front of prospective customers.#2. Attending WorkshopsUnlike a speaking engagement where an owner can talk about his expertise, a workshop allows him to teach people to do a little bit of what he is doing. So a workshop is not only about passing some tips and advices, but also teaching new skills to other people. As an instance, an owner can become a special guest at a local college, and teach on the continuing education level. In this way, an owner can easily educate people about his business and its products and services.#3. Participating in Social MediaSocial media is very important for a small business because it does not demarcate it from a big brand. In social media platforms, every business starts its journey from the same level and has an equal chance at success. But social media is a large and complicated realm. Therefore, the owner should hand over the duties to catapult the social reach to a professional agency. In this way, the business will have better chances of succeeding, and the owner can have a lot of spare time to focus on his other responsibilities.#4. Becoming a News Source ExpertA small business owner needs to contact broadcast outlets like radio stations, TV stations and local newspapers, and offer himself as an interview subject. The owner can share his business stories on the interview. If the interview goes well, then chances are high that he will get called back again. The owner will soon become a go-to expert with lots of important connections, and might also get his own daily segment on a local radio or TV channel.#5. Training Interns and ApprenticesIs there anything better for a small business owner than training the younger generation who wants to follow his example? He can start internship and apprenticeship programmers, and hire aspiring candidates. He can contact unemployment agencies, and train people who are out of work with some new skills. This will increase your reputation in the market, and help you grow quickly.These are the 5 ways by which a small business owner can increase its reach and influence. So what do you think about these points? Will you adopt them and try your luck?

Ah, the old-fashioned country auction! The idea of a country auction conjures up certain images for people. The image of a fast-talking auctioneer offering up an antique table or chair is a popular example.

People who are buying household goods or collectibles are looking to get their items at the lowest price possible. However, the people who are selling their items at auction are hoping for the highest price!

Unless a person is in the business of buying and selling antiques or other items, not a lot of thought goes into how goods are prepared for sale via the auction process. However, if you are one of the growing number of people using auction venues to sell your collectibles or other inventory, there are a few things to learn first about how to sell at auction before you bring a truckload of stuff over to the next event.

Tip 1: Make sure the things you want to sell are a good “fit” for the auction house you’ll be using.

Never bring a load to an auction house without actually having been to one of the previous auctions. It’s important to get a feel for the type of goods that the house sells. For example, at one very rural country auction it was common for the owners to sell live chickens, pots and pans, car parts, and farm equipment.

After close investigation, this would not be the right venue for selling your daughter’s “Hello Kitty” collection. On the other hand, the spare John Deere parts that you bought at last week’s yard sale might be just the right thing for the buying crowd at this auction.

Tip 2: Be sure you clearly understand the terms and policies of the auction house.

Visit with the auctioneer ahead of time. Call to find out what the best days and times are to visit. One of the worst possible times to drop in for an informational visit with an auctioneer is the day of the auction. Call ahead and ask. While you’re at it, find out what are the best days and times to drop your stuff off.

Once you have a little time with the auctioneer, you’ll be able to find out what type of commission he or she takes from consigners (which is you), and what type of paperwork might be needed. Some auction houses send out Form 1099 tax forms at the end of the year. An auctioneer may need to see your identification and have you fill out a W-9. Be prepared.

Find out what happens to your items if they don’t sell. For example, some auctioneers may have a minimum starting bid. If, for some reason, one of your items does not sell, it may be grouped with another one of your pieces. Know the auctioneer’s strategy beforehand so that you aren’t surprised on pay day.

Tip 3: Make sure the auctioneer knows what you’re selling.

It might be perfectly obvious to you that the signed print you are consigning is a rare and valuable piece of art. However, the auctioneer may not know this particular artist. Make a note of anything particularly special about your items, and leave the note with the piece. Be sure to tell the auctioneer about it as well. He or she might determine that this is something to highlight on the company website or in the newspaper listing.

Tip 4: Present your items neatly.

No one likes to have to dig through a box full of grimy and greasy car parts to see what treasures might be in there. Separate the parts and lay them out on a flat, or use more than one box to de-clutter the lot.

There is no need to buy fancy display boxes. It’s easy enough to go to the local convenience store or supermarket and ask if you can have the emptied boxes or flats that they are discarding.

While it’s good to present clean items, take care not to ruin the value of anything by over cleaning. For example, if you find some old cast iron cookware, clean the obvious dirt and grime, but don’t scrub it to its original finish. For many people, this ruins the value of the item. So, clean and tidy and organized is the key here.

Tip 5: Don’t complain to the auctioneer if your stuff doesn’t sell for as much as you’d like.

The phrase to remember here is, “You win some; you lose some.” That’s just the way it is. There are some days where an auction house is loaded with people who all seem to want what you’re selling. There will be other days where the crowd is sparse, and the bidding is simply not competitive.

Remember that it’s in the auctioneer’s best interest to sell your things for the highest possible hammer price. But sometimes, it’s just not going to be a stellar sale. The auctioneer is only human, and is also disappointed if a sale doesn’t go as well as planned.

If you notice that every time you bring a bunch of goods to sell that you’re not realizing as much as you think you honestly should, try another auction venue and compare apples to apples. That is, bring the same types of items to the new auctioneer and compare the results.

Unless the auctioneer is particularly disagreeable or inconsiderate to you or buyers, there is no reason to confront him or her about a sale. If you find you just don’t care for an auctioneer’s style or methods, find another one. Believe me, there are plenty of them out there!

The primary thing to remember as you learn how to sell at auction is that the business is unpredictable at best. You will have good days, some not-so-good days, some great days. The more you sell, the more experience you will gain, and the more enjoyable the business will be.