ssage of consistency and persistence. A small taste of success helps too, so leaders should be sure to reward accomplishments with written or verbal affirmations and celebrations. Advancing to the next step is largely a matter of practice, practice, and more practice.

Step Three – Flying On Autopilot – This is the stage everyone wants to achieve. It is the polar opposite of both Space Cadet and Student Driver. At this point all the skills le

Every newcomer to working at home graduates through three steps on the path to becoming self-sufficient. A few may never make it past the first step. Most will breeze through it but get hung up on the second. Some will be content stopping at the third. By far the most successful business partners continually cycle through all three perpetually.

Step One – The Space Cadet – This is the stage where you are completely oblivious to working at home. All you know about it is that there is some kind of work to do and you do it at home. The details are beyond your awareness. Even if you see others being successful at it you may have questions about whether or not you can be as good and actually make a living at it. You may not even know that you don’t know what’s going on. Moving to the next stage begins with the acceptance that you have something to learn. The space cadet is marked by a willingness to be coached and good ones retain that openness through all stages.

Step Two – The Student Driver - This is the stage where you begin learning about products and services, practicing good habits and developing skills. Like the student driver, it requires all your attention to focus on performing the right tasks the right way. Long after passing the test and acquiring a license to drive, the student continues to come to a complete stop at all stop signs, obeys all speed limits and keeps hands at ten and two on the steering wheel. Likewise, good business partners at this level are characterized by, and often get discouraged by, their constant effort needed to achieve results. This is the most awkward and uncomfortable stage for all business partners since they can see where they want to be but can’t quite reach it yet. That’s why it is a critical time for leaders to reinforce key practices with an emphasis on motivation and a message of consistency and persistence. A small taste of success helps too, so leaders should be sure to reward accomplishments with written or verbal affirmations and celebrations. Advancing to the next step is largely a matter of practice, practice, and more practice.

Step Three – Flying On Autopilot – This is the stage everyone wants to achieve. It is the polar opposite of both Space Cadet and Student Driver. At this point all the skills lea

me. All you know about it is that there is some kind of work to do and you do it at home. The details are beyond your awareness. Even if you see others being successful at it you may have questions about whether or not you can be as good and actually make a living at it. You may not even know that you don’t know what’s going on. Moving to the next stage begins with the acceptance that you have something to learn. The space cadet is marked by a willingness to be coached and good ones retain that openness through all stages.

Step Two – The Student Driver - This is the stage where you begin learning about products and services, practicing good habits and developing skills. Like the student driver, it requires all your attention to focus on performing the right tasks the right way. Long after passing the test and acquiring a license to drive, the student continues to come to a complete stop at all stop signs, obeys all speed limits and keeps hands at ten and two on the steering wheel. Likewise, good business partners at this level are characterized by, and often get discouraged by, their constant effort needed to achieve results. This is the most awkward and uncomfortable stage for all business partners since they can see where they want to be but can’t quite reach it yet. That’s why it is a critical time for leaders to reinforce key practices with an emphasis on motivation and a message of consistency and persistence. A small taste of success helps too, so leaders should be sure to reward accomplishments with written or verbal affirmations and celebrations. Advancing to the next step is largely a matter of practice, practice, and more practice.

Step Three – Flying On Autopilot – This is the stage everyone wants to achieve. It is the polar opposite of both Space Cadet and Student Driver. At this point all the skills le

nd good ones retain that openness through all stages.

Step Two – The Student Driver - This is the stage where you begin learning about products and services, practicing good habits and developing skills. Like the student driver, it requires all your attention to focus on performing the right tasks the right way. Long after passing the test and acquiring a license to drive, the student continues to come to a complete stop at all stop signs, obeys all speed limits and keeps hands at ten and two on the steering wheel. Likewise, good business partners at this level are characterized by, and often get discouraged by, their constant effort needed to achieve results. This is the most awkward and uncomfortable stage for all business partners since they can see where they want to be but can’t quite reach it yet. That’s why it is a critical time for leaders to reinforce key practices with an emphasis on motivation and a message of consistency and persistence. A small taste of success helps too, so leaders should be sure to reward accomplishments with written or verbal affirmations and celebrations. Advancing to the next step is largely a matter of practice, practice, and more practice.

Step Three – Flying On Autopilot – This is the stage everyone wants to achieve. It is the polar opposite of both Space Cadet and Student Driver. At this point all the skills le

s all speed limits and keeps hands at ten and two on the steering wheel. Likewise, good business partners at this level are characterized by, and often get discouraged by, their constant effort needed to achieve results. This is the most awkward and uncomfortable stage for all business partners since they can see where they want to be but can’t quite reach it yet. That’s why it is a critical time for leaders to reinforce key practices with an emphasis on motivation and a message of consistency and persistence. A small taste of success helps too, so leaders should be sure to reward accomplishments with written or verbal affirmations and celebrations. Advancing to the next step is largely a matter of practice, practice, and more practice.

Step Three – Flying On Autopilot – This is the stage everyone wants to achieve. It is the polar opposite of both Space Cadet and Student Driver. At this point all the skills le

ssage of consistency and persistence. A small taste of success helps too, so leaders should be sure to reward accomplishments with written or verbal affirmations and celebrations. Advancing to the next step is largely a matter of practice, practice, and more practice.

Step Three – Flying On Autopilot – This is the stage everyone wants to achieve. It is the polar opposite of both Space Cadet and Student Driver. At this point all the skills learned in previous training require almost no effort or consideration. You may not even be aware that you are working as you begin to relax and your duties take on an element of fun. Being at this stage is much like the commuter who travels all the way home wondering “how did I get here and did I stop at all the lights? Exactly how fast was I going and how many laws did I break getting here?” Business partners at this stage are easily recognized by their ability to focus on the finer points of their presentation skills without ignoring the basics thus becoming true professionals.

The most successful business people are the ones that never consider graduation to Autopilot an occasion for complacency but rather they relish the feeling of comfort that accompanies accomplishment. It is valuable to recognize the difference between the stagnation of complacency and the comfort of mastering skills. The former lulls you into the comfort zone that everyone works to avoid but the later, even though it is truly a comfort, builds confidence and inspires you to learn more thus perpetuating the cycle and making you into an exceptional business person.