Every Monday, I share my thoughts on Working @ Home.  Today’s guest post is by Laurie Hayes.

If you’re waiting for opportunity to knock, you may be waiting a very long time, especially if you have a padded door.

The padding on your door is created by your thoughts, habits and words you say.

If you think good things only come to the lucky few, those born with a
silver spoon in their mouth or with the ‘perfect’ childhood, you add to
the padding.

If you sit and wait, hoping for something grand and effortless to
arrive, and turn your nose at anything that requires work on your part,
you add to the padding.

And if you make excuses and say, "That’s too much for me. I don’t have the skills so why try?" you add to the padding.

Opportunities present themselves repeatedly, but they are only
recognized by those who are willing to see through their disguise. They
don’t appear with bright signs announcing their potential for wealth or
freedom, but are cloaked as work, requiring commitment and energy.

They appear when you’re actively seeking them and creating experiences
that draw them to you. By remaining in action — meeting new people,
learning new skills, gaining new knowledge and opening yourself to the
world outside of your limited perception, you create a magnet that
attracts new possibilities. By remaining closed to new ideas, being
unwilling the change harmful habits, and blaming the past for how you
feel today, you have no power to attract great opportunities into your
life. You will get nothing more than what you already have.

Make a vow today to remove the padding from your door so you hear the
knock and put a welcome sign above it so opportunity finds you.

Then get out into the world and put things into motion…

Replace bad habits with good ones.

Replace negative thoughts with positive ones.

Replace energy zapping people in your life with enthusiastic, supportive ones.

Release guilt and regret and move on. Learn from the past, don’t live in it.

Stop blaming and take responsibility for what happens next.

Stop scowling and start smiling.

Learn from the wise ones who have suffered and lost, only to pick themselves up and persist.

Give yourself permission to enjoy success and happiness. You deserve it just as much as everyone else does.

Opportunity will find you when you hold your head high instead of
staring at your feet. You will hear the knock and recognize it when it
enters and will be willing to put forth the effort required to realize
its full potential because you will be ready for it.

2008 © Laurie Hayes - The HBB Source

Laurie Hayes, founder of The HBB Source, and creator of The Complete
12-Step Guide To Starting A Home-Based Business, helps entrepreneurs
build loyal client relationships and attract more quality referrals.
Get her free ezine packed with helpful resources at http://www.thehbbsource.com and learn how to build your business through customer appreciation at http://www.hbbsourcecards.com