Running Your Own Business; Home Office
We don't have any place for those of us who have businesses or who work from a home office to share. My job is from my home and I'm starting a business that will operate out of my home for at least the first year.
My big problem is staying focused, there are dishes to be washed, laundry and other household stuff that has to be kept up with if for no other reason than people come into my apt as an office for business. I can't having it looking toooo casual (although we westerners are known for casual-LOL). Just today I've dealt with a jammed disposal, sealing tile and caulking a bathroom (tenanted so it had to be tented so they can still use it) calls about GL insurance, starting to build a web site (I know nothing about it - it will be an adventure) now I'm going to go do some touch up and then finish painting a place that is getting new carpet in couple days.
In the next month I'll be learning new software, setting up to channel work from a variety of sources, dealing with independant contractors who will be doing jobs for me; while it will probably start slowly, by the end of summer I expect to be pretty busy, I am going to have to go into my high effieceny mode (haven't been there for a few years!) This is all starting on two single parents thread budgets. Got to start someplace.
Got any tips? Ideas to share? Stories?
I work from home as well. Motivation is a challenge for me at times. I find myself cleaning to avoid sitting down and working. Construction in the neighborhood drives me nuts, barking dogs....traffic. Ugh!
The other downside is lack of human contact. Days will go by where I don't leave the house unless I force myself to do so.
OH I work from home too! Congrats WildChild.... I am sooo happy for you! I know exactly where you both are coming from. I deal with a bf working from home right now and roommates that are home on odd schedules as well
so here are some tips hope they help!
1. When you are doing boring admin stuff that when you go to the kitchen to get a drink and the dishes look more appealing....lol.... headphones, headphones, headphones..... plug into some tunes it will block out dogs, construction, and you will be entertained and get thru the boring stuff. I listen to whatever i feel like sometimes even meditation tunes if i'm feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of work i must get done. My phone lights up so if its ringing I still see it.
2. Phone won't stop set a time where you know for the next hour..... you will not be answering the phone and concentrate on whatever is the task at hand.
3. Set time limits.... i give myself a time frame to do home chores as well. If i have to do prep work for supper I set a time frame get it done and get back to work.
4. I have days were i am not productive at work at all and if i'm having one of those days then i will concentrate on my home and get lil things done that i want to get out of the way. I may have to work harder or a lil longer the next day but the flexiblity is soooo worth it!
5. Wildchild the best way to keep your house ready for customers is get rid of clutter, clutter, clutter.... that way everything has a place is streamlined and you won't feel like you have stuff hanging over ya!
WildChild..... you will do fantastic... I didn't know anything about website design, coding, database management, Search Engine Optimization nothing.... so no worries you are such a smart lady you will have moments but you will breeze thru it!!!
Sourpuss what do you do?
Me I Do HR Management / Recruitment
WC if you need any info let me know I'd be more than happy to give you any information that would help you.
All the red people work from home almost?
This is my third business and all started from home, recently i downsized and came back to home.
This site, ( haha) gets me started during the morning over coffee and I go from there.
It's good to get up and put the washing on, your stretching your body instead of sitting on your butt, annoying your shoulders, fingers, back and giving it a break..
I make a list of all the things i have to get through and I ensure i get through them before i Know it it was 7am and then it's 2pm and frankly i've had enough...
I also have two stones in front of me :-
FAITH
BELIEVE
That I can't help but see, that remind me why this little desk and computer are important to continue striving for what I am aiming at, my goal.
FOCUS....
Working from home means you can sit here naked
Do we not realise that in order to find a soul
It doesn't happen over night
if truth were to be told.
Like everything in life that's hard to achieve
you must believe!
oh and make sure you take a lunch hour or something ... eat go for a walk get away from your desk... the world won't end if you take a break
Turns out T is calling in a favor so I should be getting out of building the web site. I'm almost giddy with relief! LOL. I've worked from home on and off for years and my J*O*B is done at home. But this will be very different than anything I've done. Once we get one arm up and running well I will be working on laying the foundation to go into other areas because what we are starting with will have a limited life so in three years I need to have us operating strong in several other areas related to construction.
I'm going to have to get more scheduled but stay flexible because I often have to deal with emergencies and will have to get out in the field too. I'm going to dig out some planning tools and just block out time. This should be challenging and fun I hope!
Being sick for nearly a week has slowed things down. I've been kind of fuzzy headed and sleeping quite a bit. The web site is barely a beginning - lots to do there before it's even a page that a potential client should see-but it won't a source of business contact so much as part of establishing a presence. Still trying to line up insurance, I have to have a million in GL & EO. As a start up not having a track record is a bit of a hinderance but even so I'm surprised at companies that don't bother to return an inquiry contact or respond to an application - almost like they don't want the business.
I'm confident since I'm starting to feel better, that it will all come together. There is probably a silver lining in this little delay and I'll get back at it with renewed vigor. This has highlighted one of the buggest draw backs to a sole proprietorship, that is that if you can't work, nothing happens. As it builds up I will work at creating something that can run without me - after all I like to go places and see things and people!
You said it wildchild...........something that can run without you. Great attitude cause that is what happens we don't want to let go and then we can't. It is true when i work a lil more then i seem to get faster results but i've learned from a very bad prior experience not to over do it or atleast to keep it in check or monitor it.
i've learned to try and live balanced but its a learning experience each day
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