Starting a home business is exciting and yet fears can pop up when starting anything new. Once you?ve made the decision to take control of your future, ask yourself these questions to mentally prepare to play the game to win.

1. What do you want to accomplish?
Do you want to earn a little extra money or a six-figure income? And by when? As the saying goes, you need to know where you?re going if you?re ever going to get there.

2. Do you have your goals written out?
I know we hear this all the time, but there is something very powerful about writing out our goals and having this on paper. It keeps us focused and on track.

3. Who is your target market?
?Everyone? is not a target market. Even if most people could use your product or service, narrowing who you want to reach allows you to be more effective in your advertising messages and actions.

4. How are you going to reach your market?
Through article writing, through ezine advertising, promoting through local groups or events, offline advertising? There are dozens of ways to market your business and many will take testing to determine the best avenue for you, but have a plan on how you want to get started. Then revise as you go.

5. What is your advertising budget?
If you?re starting out on a shoestring, just know that it will take more word-of-mouth or creative ways to get your product or service in front of people. And if you have some funds for advertising, plan out how and where you can get the best value for your dollar.

6. How much time can you commit to your business each week?
Most of us have busy lives and it?s important to block out specific times to work on our business if it?s going to thrive. Remember, to be successful, you can work a home business part-time, but you can?t work it in your spare time. Spare time never happens.

7. What are the most important activities that you can do to generate revenue? Focus on what will get you customers, other distributors or people on your mailing list. Don?t get side-tracked with excessive organizing or revising your plan for the 20th time. Determine what will get you results and go for it!

8. Do you have a mentor?
If you?re already lost on some of these steps, partner with someone in your business that is experienced and already successful. Don?t be afraid to ask for help and then follow what has proven to be successful.

9. What are you most afraid of?
Acknowledge your fears. Talk to your mentor about them. If you need more information to feel more professional, get that info, but don?t get stuck in the ?student? mode. Learn the basics and then jump in. The unknown can be scary and not everyone is going to be your next customer or distributor, but the best way to conquer any fear is to walk right through it.

10. Do you expect to win?
That may seem like a strange question, but are you really expecting success or are you just ?hoping? to make it? Building a home business will help you grow personally in innumerable ways, if you?re determined to succeed. If you?re coachable and willing to work on yourself, you?re embarking on a wonderful journey.

Taking a little time to answer these questions will start the creation of your initial plan. Then work with your mentor and have fun! Learn and modify as you go. Consistent, daily actions (whether big or small) will result in a strong, viable business for yourself and your loved ones.

In closing, here?s a quote from Dr. Robert Anthony. ?Waiting is a trap. There will always be reasons to wait. The truth is, there are only two things in life, reasons and results, and reasons simply don?t count.? Create results!