Proofreading Course
The No-Nonsense Proofreading Course Blog
  • Home
  • Proofreading Course
  • About the Author
  • Reviews
    • FAQ
  • Proofreading Exercises
  • Proofreading Stuff
    • How to Become a Proofreader
    • Proofreading Marks AKA Proofreading Symbols
    • Proofreading Test
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Store

3/11/2010

How to Stay Focussed as a Work-From-Home Proof Reader

0 Comments

Read Now
 
Working from home. Being your own boss. It sounds like a dream.

At first.

But after just a few days of determined effort and sheer, unbridled enthusiasm, the concentration begins to wander. The television beckons, or the radio, or the coffee pot, or that little household task that turns into a whirl of domestic activity, and suddenly you’re asking yourself, “Where did the day go?” And you realise just how much you may have needed that pain-in-the-backside boss cracking the whip and endlessly growling about productivity and seasonal targets.

You begin to wonder if you haven’t made a terrible mistake. Maybe you’ve overestimated your determination to succeed. Maybe you just don’t have what it takes to be self-employed. Maybe it’s time to brush up your resume and begin the hunt for full time, permanent employment.

Don’t worry. You’re just going through what almost every self-employed, home-working individual goes through during the early days of their new commercial endeavour.

But what to do about it?

Well, remember that pain-in-the-backside boss cracking the whip and endlessly growling about productivity and seasonal targets? We’re going to invite him into your home. In a manner of speaking.

We’re going to create a virtual boss, a to-do list with attitude.

Now, everybody can create a to-do list. Some people can even stick to it. Unfortunately, most people tend to adhere to it for a while then begin to let it slide. And once it begins to slide a little it’s remarkable how easy it is to ignore it entirely, rather like the boss who begins to lose your respect.

That’s why our to-do list needs to have attitude. It needs to be compelling. Your to-do list doesn’t just need to tell you what to do, it needs to tell you what’s at stake. And not in a vague way, either; it needs to be specific and concrete.

For example, say you need to put together a list of all the businesses in your area that might benefit from your proofreading expertise. Put it on your to-do list. Next to it, or underneath it, write down exactly when this task needs to be done by. Don’t put ‘ASAP’, give an exact time and date, based upon how long you think the task will reasonably take, bearing in mind any other activities you might have on-going.

Now, this is the important bit. Write down what will happen if you do achieve this target. So, you might write: “If I compile this list by tomorrow lunchtime, I’ll be able to mail to potential customers the same day and commence follow-up calls in 48-hours. This means by the end of the week I should be looking at securing my first assignments.”

How exciting is that? First assignment by the end of the week? There’s something to aim for.

Now, write down what will happen if you don’t complete this task by the designated time. Be harsh. Be that pain-in-the-backside boss. Write something like: “If I don’t put myself on the radar of these businesses by the end of the week, somebody else will, and not only will I lose their business in the short-term, I could lose it indefinitely. This could seriously damage my business.”

Every task you assign yourself should be treated in exactly the same fashion. Every task should have a realistic (but maybe a little challenging) timeframe and clearly described consequences if you do or don’t complete the task on time.

That pain-in-the-backside boss was probably a pain-in-the-backside for a reason. He or she fully understood the consequences of inactivity, poor productivity and less than 100% commitment. And once you begin to reap the benefits of your ‘to-do list with attitude’, so will you, and your business will begin to grow and thrive.

Share

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

Details
    Testimonials
    “I am one of those many fools who paid a huge amount of money for a useless course. This book... has opened so many doors for me. I now look on Mike as my mentor as I embark on a career. Thank you Mike.” 
    Emma Steel, Proofreader and International Structural Editor.

    “ I thoroughly enjoyed the course and am so glad that I decided to take it... the whole experience was invaluable. My proofreading service is now well established and your course played no small part in getting it off the ground.”
    Hache L. Jones, Proofreader.

    “I'd just like to thank you first of all for writing such a great, straight forward eBook, and then going above and beyond what I would even expect as a customer by providing us, completely free of charge, updated versions months later!” 
    Rachel Gee, Trainee Proofreader.

    “What can I say? Worth every penny and then some! God Bless! This a fabulous course.” 
    Teresa Richardson, Proofreader.

    ​“As someone who has effectively been proofreading for thirty years, I found Mike’s No-Nonsense Proofreading Course an invaluable introduction and a very useful practical guide to many aspects of this discipline. I can wholeheartedly recommend it as the ideal starting point, and much more besides.”

    ​Jeremy Meehan, Proofreader.

    Blog Author

    My name's Mike Sellars and I'm an experienced proofreader and the author of The No-Nonsense Proofreading Course. Click here to find out more about me.

    Proofreading Course Author, Mike Sellars
    My Google+ Profile

    RSS Feed

    The No-Nonsense Proofreading Course

    $53.99
    View Details

    A Fraction of the Cost of Other Proofreading Courses


    NOTE: Stock is currently limited to 10 per day, so we can continue to deliver exceptional after-sales service, answer queries and provide open-door support.


    • Learn to proofread like a professional
    • 30 years of experience distilled into a single easy-to-follow package
    • Over 1,000 pages of FREE bonus eBooks and learning materials
    • 30-day money-back 100% satisfaction guarantee
    • Follow my advice and you will earn your money back in just two hours!
    • Download it now and start learning and earning right away.
    • I operate a virtual 'open door' policy after purchase, generally answering any and all email queries and concerns within 48 hours and usually sooner.


    Credit card and PayPal payments accepted.


    “As someone who has been proofreading for 30 years, I found Mike’s course an invaluable introduction and a very useful practical guide to many aspects of the discipline. I can wholeheartedly recommend it.” Jeremy Meehan, Proofreader.


    Still want to find out more? Click here.

    Proofreading Categories

    All
    A World Without Proofreaders
    A World Without Proof Readers
    Barack Obama Spelling Mistake
    Copy Editing
    Copy Editor
    Digital Proofreading
    Do Proofreaders Need Good Grammar
    Editing
    Embarrassing Spelling Mistakes
    English Usage
    Eye Care
    Freelance Proofreading
    Free Proofreading Course
    Free Proofreading Exercises
    Fun
    Grammar
    Hyphenation Rules
    If Proof Readers Ruled The World
    If Proofreaders Ruled The World
    International Proofreading
    Merchandise
    Off Topic
    Off-Topic
    Online Proofreading
    Proofreader
    Proof Reader
    Proof Reader Merchandise
    Proof-reader Or Proof Reader
    Proofreaders
    Proof Readers
    Proof Readers Equipment
    Proof Readers\' Equipment
    Proofreading
    Proofreading 101
    Proofreading Advice
    Proofreading And Women
    Proofreading Careers
    Proofreading Course
    Proofreading Course Bulletin
    Proofreading Course Discount
    Proofreading Courses
    Proofreading Ebook
    Proofreading Exercises
    Proofreading Fiction
    Proofreading Job Interview
    Proofreading Jobs
    Proofreading Joke
    Proofreading Qualifications
    Proofreading Resumes
    Proofreading Scam
    Proofreading Software
    Proofreading Test
    Proofreading Testimonials
    Proof Reading Tips
    Proofreading Tips
    Proofreading Vacancies
    Punctuation
    Scam Warning
    Second Edition
    Spell Check
    Spell Checkers
    Spelling Errors
    Spelling Fail
    Spelling Mistakes
    Working From Home

    Proofreading Archives

    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    March 2019
    February 2019
    March 2018
    July 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    December 2014
    November 2014
    August 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    November 2013
    August 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    October 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010

  • Home
  • Proofreading Course
  • About the Author
  • Reviews
    • FAQ
  • Proofreading Exercises
  • Proofreading Stuff
    • How to Become a Proofreader
    • Proofreading Marks AKA Proofreading Symbols
    • Proofreading Test
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Store