My entrepreneurial spirit captured my imagination as I had considered going into business for myself many times. I knew that life after baseball was just around the corner and that my 18 years of "Split-Contract" income was not going to insure my family the lifestyle we wanted. I'd see other people's successes and say, "I can do that, too" or "I can do better than that." (My competitive nature plaques me still.)

I was exploring options and looking for more information. And finally, (two years after retirement) off to a great start! The more questions I asked, the more I learned about myself and my business idea, the greater my chance of making the correct decisions in the journey.These are the things I've learned:

Know your goals

* What do you want in your life?

* Where are you trying to go?

* What are you trying to build?

A home-based business must be compatible with your goals, talents and resources. It is a good way to combine your human, financial and material resources to produce a product or service the market demands. Remember, not to exclude additional training and/or educational materials and programs as a resource. Once I made it to the Majors, training was still a part of my daily regiment. Surround yourself with "like-minded" people and build a good support system, like a team.

Think about your family goals and discuss them. List these goals and determine which goals are short-term, and which are long-term. Be sure to include a "time-line" or target date for each goal. Then list the steps or plan required to achieve each goal. For example, short-term goals that require substantial amounts of money may be incompatible with the financial demands of a beginning enterprise. Prioritizing at this stage is very important to future success.

Many households have established a home-based business to generate income or supplemental income. Various estimates suggest that between 10 and 23 million Americans currently work for pay in their homes. These figures include people who work out of their homes for others; they are not all home-based businesses. Whatever the work, the reasons for choosing to work at home varies. A few of the most often voiced are:

* No child care costs

* Increasing family income

* Being your own boss

* No expensive commute or necessary wardrobe

* Profitably

* Expressing a special talent, hobby or interest

* Combining the busy lifestyle of parenting with that of outside work

* Flexible work hours

* Retirement occupation

* Low start up costs

For me, all of these applied to some degree. But the big one that stood out was "Combining the lifestyle of parenting with that of outside work". Working under a "contract" for 18 years had denied me and especially my children of so much time together! I longed to coach my boys in their chosen sports and participate in mid-day school events. Eight kids, 6 boys, 2 girls, and I had missed it all with the older ones!

Success = Hard Work and Commitment

Fortunately a concept I learned early in life. Commitment to a goal does not guarantee success. You must work hard. Your personal traits, skills and interests must be compatible for success in your business venture, too. A good way to approach this is to honestly appraise your personality traits. Use the following list to assess your personality against those of a successful business manager, home-based or not, that you are familiar with. Check those that describe you to determine your business personality profile:

_____ Enthusiastic

_____ Organized

_____ Like people

_____ Self-starter

_____ Perseverance

_____ Achiever

_____ Determined

_____ Leader

_____ Responsible

_____ Trustworthy

_____ Disciplined

_____ Creative

_____ Curious

_____ Independent

_____ Decision maker

_____ Sincere

_____ Physically energetic

_____ Emotionally secure

_____ Confident

_____ Resourceful

If the "checked" list is longer than the "non-checked" list, you probably have the personality traits necessary for managing the average home-based business. However, you should closely examine the two lists in relation to the business you are planning. Is the "non-checked" list really important to what you want to do? Would a business partner or spouse, who is strong where you are weak, fit into your business plans? Start by asking yourself these imperative questions and answering them honestly. You'll be well on you way to a great foundation for self- employment.