While Build a Solo Practice, LLC’s target audience is solo lawyers. I find more stuff on there that applies to a home office warrior than I can count. And once again Susan has provided a post that all home office worker, business owners and warriors should read.

7 Things I Learned in 2007 — Goals For You To Achieve in 2008 provides some wonderful things to think about as we start the new year. Since Susan’s audience is solo lawyers, I am going to take creative license with her list of 7, and apply them to the Home Office Warrior. However, keep in mind, at least a couple of them apply to HOW’s as they are written.

1. The present and future of business marketing is on the Internet.

There is simply no challenge to this statement that makes sense. It needs to be the primary launch pad for any marketing campaign; everything else must be sensibly and organically grown from this platform.

What more needs to be said. If you are not marketing your home based business on the Internet, you are going to get left behind. Simply as that!! One of the fastest, easiest and best returns on your investments you can make for you home based business is to start and maintain a blog. Don’t over think it. Just do it.

2. There is no ‘competition’ in any well-designed marketing plan.

I have never concerned myself with the competition. And it appears Susan’s agrees.

If you are looking behind you to see who might be catching up or glancing sideways to see who may be passing you, you can’t keep your natural and comfortable stride nor your eye on the adventure ahead.

For me, I have always felt that I am the competition. I use that statement as a way to cause myself to not worry about it. Like any smart runner in a race, if you are caught looking behind to see where the competition is, you are going to get left behind. You need to concentrate on your own mission and don’t worry about what anyone else is doing. If anything, learn from what they are doing and improve on it. But, don’t be looking in your rear view mirror to see if they are catching up. That is just not an issue. There is plenty of business out there for all of us.

3. If you are afraid to be who you really are, don’t be on the internet.

Simple put, don’t put it out there unless you want the whole world to know. You are working hard to build your reputation. Take notice of what is being said about you and for you. And don’t be afraid to take the lead in defending or correcting what is being said.

4. Be generous with your time, your information and your gratitude.

Nothing will garner you new friends, colleagues, reputation or business like being nice; giving without expectation of return, helping because it just feels right to you, not keeping a ledger of what you did for whom or vice versa. A 50/50 proposition is no win at all.

This can not be more true than in the home office environment. There is nothing that would do my heart and other’s hearts more good than for every home office business owner to be part of a network where we help each other and get help from others. We should never look on such a happening as helping our competition. (see number 2).

We all will benefit from this. “Everyone’s success is your success and your success is everyone’s. And profits will naturally flow.’

5. Pay serious, not casual, attention to the changes in the world.

In order to start a business you MUST be cognizant of the way the world is changing business and how we live and prosper in it. Those who cling to the old ways, the old ideas will be sitting on the side lines in a few years wondering ‘what happened’ and longing for the ‘old days.’

We cannot live or work in a vacuum. In order to succeed with our marketing efforts, our technology and our business, we have to keep up on what is going on. One of the best ways I have found to do that is to use a good RSS feeder and have the information come to me. A natural way to keep up is to read other blogs. Use the greatest source of information we have are our finger tips, the Internet.

6. Change your idea of ‘work community.’

A prime example of this is what is called Co-working facilities. And you can do this without even leaving your home office if you want, build your own ‘Co-working facility’ via the Internet, instant messaging, emailing, telephone, VoIP, video chats and on and on. You don’t have to feel isolated just because you work at home. And quite frankly, that is sometimes what keeps some from working from home.

You can also take a break from the home office and visit your local coffee shop. I do that at least once a week. Not only can i get a great cup of coffee and interact with like minded people. I can get work done by using the free wifi.

7. Always trust your gut.

Trust your gut when it comes to work choices, associations, marketing, life. In order to live in a civilized society we’ve been taught to disregard our instincts in order to conform.

I could not say it better. We all have a built in sense that tells us when something is just not right. Remember to listen to that and heed your own advice.

You need to listen to your instincts when going into business for yourself or risk the dangers, too, of wrong associations, wrong clients and more.

If I can leave you with one thought on this, listen to me, myself and I.