It doesn’t matter how long I’ve been a home stager or business person, I still get stuck like everyone else. It’s only natural to have our energies and ideas ebb and flow. It’s part of the process of creating our ideal business and lifestyle.

The philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau said:

“Man was born free, but everywhere he is in chains.”

Pretty profound and so relevant even though he would have said it way back in the 1700’s! We have so much freedom to do what we want with our lives, but something often holds us back. More often than not it’s fear that we’re not good enough.

Instead of admitting that to ourselves, we pretend we don’t have any freedom because of  lack of time and lack of money. Let’s explore the top 2 excuses for not getting on with living our best life:

Not Enough Time to Be a Successful Home Stager

The average person spends 28 hours per week sitting in front of the television, and 6 to 10 hours on Facebook! Add those two up and you’ve got an entire extra work week! I watch TV too and I also spend time on Facebook but I try and be very aware of how long I spend on these because I know that this is time I’m not spending following my dreams or being an active parent.

It does take time to build a successful business, but you can do it at whatever pace feels comfortable for you. When I became a home stager, I was a single parent with a 7 year old. I walked my child to school every morning, was there for pick up at 3:30 almost every day and never worked evenings and weekends. Yet I grew a very successful home staging business that was even featured on HGTV, CNN, Women’s Day, House & Home, and many other magazines and newspapers.

I am not a super woman, but I am focused.

I got stuck some times, but then I pulled myself out of it and kept going. Really there was no option. Unless my home staging business succeeded we wouldn’t eat and I wouldn’t be able to pay my mortgage.

Not Enough Money to Start or Grow a Home Staging Business

Home staging is one of the least cost businesses you can start if you follow the business formula I share in the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program.

You DON’T need:

• A storefront or office (a spare bedroom or corner of your house is fine).
• Employees (You can run your business on your own, even when you’re making $100,000 a year, I know because I’ve personally done it.).
• Inventory (Some stagers buy their own furniture and/or accessories but this is a choice. I’ve staged over $50 million worth of real estate with NO inventory.).
• Expensive advertising (I’ve been a home stager since 2002 and I’ve never paid for a newspaper or magazine ad).

If you really want to start or grow your home staging business, you might have to cut back on some impulse purchases but you certainly don’t have to take a vow of poverty! You’ll be making hundreds of dollars from your very first home staging client if you know what you’re doing from a business standpoint.

Another factor that keeps us stuck and overwhelmed and one that I’ve written a lot about is negative self-talk. Talk about a huge enthusiasm killer!

Knowing what we need to do to move forwards in our lives can be easier said than done. That’s why it really helps to have a home staging business coach in your corner. Successful athletes and business owners almost all have coaches. Business coaching is such a valuable tool in:

• Helping you get unstuck.
• Seeing opportunities instead of barriers.
• Staying motivated.
• Solving problems.

I have personally coached hundreds of home stagers and entrepreneurs over the years. You’ll be amazed at how much ground we can cover in even a single hour. You can experience how I can personally help you whether you’re:

• Just thinking of becoming a home stager.
• You’ve already started a home staging business and you’re feeling stuck.
• You’re already successful but want to take your staging business to a whole new level

Wouldn’t it be nice to know I’m only a phone call away if/when you get stuck? Click here to check out Business Accelerator Coaching.

What challenge is stopping you from moving forward right now? Please share in the comments below.

 

Debra Gould, The Staging Diva®

Debra Gould has been a serial entrepreneur since 1989. She is president of Voice of Possibility Group Inc. with a mission of helping entrepreneurs create their ideal businesses and lifestyles.

An internationally recognized home staging expert, Debra created the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program with 7,000 students in the U.S., Canada and 20 other countries. She is the author of 5 guides and appears frequently in the media.