This is a guest post by Alex Papa who recently wrote a great post on the challenges of working from home for YoungPrePro readers. If you enjoyed the last post I’m sure you would enjoy this one too.
In my last guest post here we studied the 5 Main Challenges of Working From Home. There were many comments by readers who have experience in working from home and the distractions that may occur, how they slow down business and how the impact family relationships in a negative way. Some people even said that they feel lonely working from home.
These are all serious concerns. In this article I have used my experience to write down a few tips that will help you enjoy working from home and avoid the problems that arise from operating a home based business.
I have been running my own business for over a decade, and I started working from home as well. I know these mistakes because I made them too: almost all self-employed people who work from home make these mistakes at one point or another. Fortunately, I learned to overcome these problems and it has led me to success. With these simple tips, you can join me in healthy and successful home-based business practices.
1: Always make time for your loved ones.
Discipline to separate work time from home time isn’t just to ensure you get your work done— it ensures that the people who constitute your emotional support get the time and attention they need as well. There’s no point in working from home if you don’t have anyone to share your home with— try to set aside one day a week as special family time.
2: Keep your work in one spot and one spot only.
Make yourself a home office, or at least keep a desk no one else can touch. Running all over the house because your toddler, your mother or your brother picked up an important file isn’t very professional.
3: For crying out loud, get dressed!
If you act like you’re at home, you’re going to get as much work done as if you worked in a corporation and had the day off. Don’t let distractions get to you, and conduct yourself professionally and appropriately.
4: Don’t forget to clock out.
There should be a time of the day when work is completely finished, so that you can focus on yourself and your loved ones without guilt. (If you limit distractions and keep a home office, this should be much easier!)
5: Don’t forget to outsource to freelancers.
The sooner you can have other people taking care of the distracting aspects of your work, the better. Nothing feels better than the transition from being a one-person show to running your own business with a team of people who you trained.
6: Be transparent and accountable to your family members and loved ones.
Really talk to them about what you do, why, and how it makes you money. If they truly understand just how hard you work, there will be no room for them to resent you for “playing around” on the computer all day.
7: Work Yourself Out of the Home-Based Business.
Most important of all, there is a big difference between having a home-based business and running a proper business or your own corporation. A business is, by its very nature, bigger than just one person: it takes employees, tools, and computer programs all working in harmony to output the business’ product. While working from home is a good place to start, it is just that— a starting point. In order for a business to grow, it needs room to grow; room that a good home simply can’t provide in the long run. As important as it is to make accommodations early for working from your own home, it is just as important to set early goals and plans for what happens once your business is too big to be a home-based business any more. Once you’ve moved into a different space, the growth potential for your endeavors will only continue to expand to meet your ambition and imagination— all because you nurtured your business at home in its infancy.
Alex Papa has been the founder of many successful businesses that he started from home. His latest starting a business course shows you what the rich teach the kids about starting a business that beats the recession and business schools do not. In his blog Alex talks about internet security solutions and offers valid Norton antivirus codes.
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Hi Alex & Oni
I have only been blogging a few months seriously and just a couple of weeks ago started selling my sourced products.
I try to keep to a schedule although I appreciate this has to be flexible as I grow my business. Have a designated area for my work space and my friends are getting the idea that though I may be at home all day, I am actually working!
Thanks for sharing some salient points with us Alex. Much appreciated.
Patricia Perth Australia
Thank you Patricia. It does feel good to know that our friends are aware of the fact that we do work when we are at home. Of course we don’t need their approval for what we do, but I think it is just the feeling of justification; we feel we are in the right track
There should be a time when work is finished, but I haven’t discovered this time yet. The work just never seems to end.
Thanks for being so honest Andreas. But there is no need to feel bad about it. I think all hard-working, dedicated, self-employed individuals are in the same boat. I feel guilty of that too sometimes; work does not seem to end and I cannot make time for other things. It helps to remember that it is all up to me. I create the exact amount of time I give to things, not my business. Andreas you are the boss of your business, don’t let your work be your boss.
hi alexpapa, few days ago i read an article on home based job. but it was the demerits of home based job. anyway, i do love to work from home and try to do most of my task from my home. it is the blessing of advanced technology. ‘always make time for your loved ones’ was the best tips in my opinion. others are fabulous.
Thanks Rahul. It is important to make time for our loved ones. Here is a secret we often forget: In life what we focus on expands. This means, that what we put attention on gives us results. If we put no attention on our family relationships these will deteriorate – that is no good!
Being a self-employed and working from home sounds really wonderfully and this is the dream of many bloggers and online entrepreneurs.
However working from home does not mean you are going to work less, to sleep longer to have no stress to watch TV during the day to take a break whenever you want.
You need to work hard and maybe even harder than you would have to in the regular work. You will need to be your CEO, CFO, HR manager and employee at the same time.
That’s right Adam. When an individual starts a home based business he does everything… He/She is the receptionist, the chief financial officer and the cleaner! It is ok for a self-employed person to start like this. However, he should aim to build a business system sooner than later, in which certain tasks will be delegated to his team.
I think outsourcing is what requires to keep you focused and relax as your business grows on. lot of people ignore that thing and don’t outsource thinking that they can do it themselves, even I also did this earlier but then I realize that my creativity was going down because I had to work whole day.
True Daisy. Outsourcing is a great secret. I think good business owners are good leaders of people. When I moved from managing tasks (self-employed) to managing people and systems (business owner) I had to learn how to lead, manage and motivate people. It is a skill that can be learnt. It made such a huge difference in expanding and developing my business. (plus having more free time!!)
Absolutely Alex, The more you will free time the more your head will will work to solve the problems and think out of the box.
Haha! Point number 3 was not something I made up! It comes from my own experience. I have a 12-month toddler. She recently started to walk. If she happens to get in my office, she will grab papers and walk away. Then she hides them and I will only find them weeks later, only by accident!
OMG! Alex you made me laugh so hard with the point number 3!
Same here.
But…I really like working in my dirty undies and stained t-shirt
Hi Dan,
You’re the one who truly made me laugh
Thumbs up Oni!
I know it’s funny! Well, when it happens a few times then it’s not that funny!
You wish you have your own peace and quiet so that you can focus on your work!
I always wear my fluffy blue housecoat my folks got me 22 years ago.
Unless, of course, I’m making a video.
Although I’ll admit, it has worked its way into those too….
Hi Alex & Oni,
I like this post. It just reveals most of my mistakes. I often treat my home business as though it weren’t serious. Since i do it from home, i don’t even have a specific desk or office, i just use my laptop anywhere i found myself; on the couch, bed e.t.c
I think i ought to take thinks more seriously now.
thanks
Thank you for the post.
Point 7. is the Bomb. Many of us in home base business, do not include the bigger picture to include one day that we will get out of the home and build a business system that will set us free from being the centre/heart of the business.
I agree totally. That is what I told a client yesterday; ‘don’t work in your business, but work on your business.’
I am guilty of point #2 and #3. I’ll definitely create a space and be getting dresses too, i think it will affect my psychology towards the work too.
Hey Alex,
Another great post man. You’re really doing great work everywhere.
These are some great points Alex.
Thanks for sharing this great Post. Have a nice day.
Thanks Dev! I think I have experience I can share that can help people. Thanks for your good words.
Alex gives right point here about the work from Home business here , But one point I think Alex here he have to write “How can we manage business and personal life together ”
Thanks Alex
Simply but effective. I really have a problem with working at home sometimes.
Thanks for sharing!
I guess the idea is to move out ultimately.
Alex:
This is a great post!
People tend to forget that working from home should be no different than working in an office. In an office people feel they must get things done because they have someone usually looking over their shoulder. People tend to be more relaxed at home and not focus as much.
I would also suggest posting a schedule on the outside of your door so your family knows your working hours. Also include times for breaks and lunch so your family will know when they will be able to see you and speak with you.
Following your tips will help people be more successful.
Take care!
- Rick
Hi Rick, Posting a schedule up on your door is a good idea! In this way your family won’t disturb you while you are working. That’s showing respect to you. I guess, you’ll have to show respect to them by honouring the lunch, break and finish times. That can be really difficult… and will take a lot of discipline.
Thanks for sharing some salient points with us Alex. Much appreciated.
Great post. The idea of working from home and being at home for your family is very attractive. Home comforts, flexibility and more. These are real advantages. However, there are also disadvantages. With children or other family members can be distracting. So time can easily be wasted and time wasted can never be taken back. But then again, I agree with you that having an office can lessen distractions. Thanks for sharing.
right now am still working from in my under wear and in the sitting room. I just think some of us get much done when we just start doing things when the flow hits us. And when you put pen to paper or you start punching your computer you may be far gone into the day before you realise that you are still dressed in your underp***s.
But I really need to work on sharing valuable time with my family.
great points but work never ends….
Getting dressed is a real problem for me…I get out of bed and go to the computer, even before getting a coffee. This is the best time for me to get things done….But then I get stuck there for hours, still not dressed, and entranced in my work…
And then I get knock at the door…I run to get dressed and tell the person I will be there in a minute….They must be wondering “What the hell is going on in there? ” ….
working from home is a tough thing for me to do…I cannot get myself to actually work as when I am at home I just want to sleep, watch football, etc. I have to go to an office or get out of my comfort zone.
i am also a working as a full to me freelancer. i have to maintain this steps. i have kid she will come and play while i am working some times it will irritate me some time it give a enjoyable moment.. that one most drawback when we are working from home if there is kids we cant able to control them
Many of us in home base business, do not include the bigger picture to include one day that we will get out of the home and build a business system that will set us free from being the centre/heart of the business.
You need to work hard and maybe even harder than you would have to in the regular work.
Hello friends,this is a nice site and I wanted to post a note to let you know, good job! Thanks
These are some great points Alex.
Thanks for sharing this great Post. Have a nice day.
For you,some nice games,you will not regret.
Thank you for the tips on starting a home-based business.
Its very hard to keen some equilibrium in all level when you work at home, but thanks for the tips
Great news you shared to us.
Thanks for the informations
Alex great post…. working from home is also my favorite way to make money