More than 43 million Americans now work from home either full-time or part-time. Many millions more are
expected to join these ranks as our economy changes.
How to make this working arrangement successful...
Problem: Separating business from personal time and space. Many people work from home because they
want to balance work with family obligations -- caring for a child, grandchild or parent. Or they want the time to
do other things -- exercise, volunteer, write or simply kick back and relax. They expect that an at-home work
arrangement will afford them the flexibility to plan out their day so they can do it all.
Reality: People who work from home usually work longer hours than they did in an office. This can make it
harder to balance business and personal concerns.
If they're starting a business from home, then general start-up issues -- organizing the business, making
connections, getting the ball rolling -- eat up time. And whether they're running their own business or
telecommuting, the plain fact is that the business is always there.
Discipline: To maintain the balance you want to achieve, you need to use discipline. Set boundaries for both
space and time...
Fix your business hours. While you may not always stick to your schedule, at least you'll have a guideline for
your time.
Separate your business from your personal life -- use separate phone lines for each.
Bonus: You'll earn a tax deduction. The first line to a home is not deductible even if used for business... the
second line is.
Answer your business phone only during business hours.
Advise clients and customers of your business hours. Tell them you don't work weekends or after a certain
hour during the week.
SETTING UP YOUR WORK SPACE
You're going to be spending considerable time in your home office, so set it up right. Two things to make your
home office function properly...
Sufficient space. You need to find room for the office furniture and equipment you'll use in your business. List
the equipment you'll need to fit into your office space -- a computer, an easel or anything else required for you
to function properly. Then map out where everything will go. You may also need space for samples or
inventory.
Separate space. You need office space apart from your personal living space. It's difficult to make a kitchen
table function as an office if you also use it for family meals.
Note: Setting up separate space for a home office is necessary if you want to claim a home-office deduction.
The tax law requires that your space be used regularly and exclusively for business. This means you can't
use your den as an office by day and a family room by night. You don't necessarily need an entire room for
business or even a partitioned space within a room. All you need is a clearly defined area devoted solely to
business.
MAINTAINING A PROFESSIONAL IMAGE
Working from home may allow you to go to the office in a robe and slippers. But you need to present a
professional image to the outside world. This means infusing quality into everything you do...
Consistently use your business identity. Answer the phone with the name of your business.
Be prompt in returning calls and correspondence -- snail mail or E-mail.
Keep your office space neat... and free from personal effects. This is especially important if clients or
customers come to call.
Office address? It may be helpful to use a post office box -- or other box number -- as your official mailing
address. Doing this will maintain your privacy. (Customers and other business associates won't know your
home address.)
A mailbox can also afford you a prestigious address if you think it will help your business image.
Example: You live down a dirt road outside a small town that nobody knows. Consider renting a commercial
box from a service, such as Mail Boxes, Etc. This will give you a known address, probably one on the main
street of your home town. Other benefits of a box...
Deliveries can be made to the box, even if you're away from home.
Neighbors won't know about your business.
MORE ABOUT HANDLING PERSONAL ISSUES
Working from home presents a range of issues you won't have at a downtown office. List the issues that
trouble you and devise ways to minimize or avoid problems...
Distractions. Working at home means that the demands of running a home are always at hand. Laundry,
cleaning and home repairs are never out of sight.
Solution: Set business hours and stick to them. Do household chores only after business hours.
For some, a big distraction in working at home is the refrigerator. While about half of those who start working
from home don't have any weight change, about one-third do gain weight. To maintain your weight, stay away
from the refrigerator during business hours.
Interruptions. An at-home spouse... a needy neighbor&ellipsis; calls from friends.
These and other interruptions eat into your concentration and detract from your business performance.
Solutions: Set limits. Put a "do not disturb" sign on the door. Give strict instructions that you don't want to be
interrupted during business hours.
Isolation. Working at home means no more juicy conversations at the office watercooler. While some people
thrive on being alone during work hours and are more productive because of it, others suffer from feelings of
isolation.
Solutions: Working from home doesn't mean you're locked in. Just the opposite. It means you're free. You
can...
Schedule outside appointments. Instead of having clients or customers come to you, visit them at their place
of business.
Join business and professional groups. This will give you the opportunity to network and make important
business connections. It will also give you an incentive to get out of the house.
Make breakfast and lunch dates. Meet friends or business associates for a meal, once a week.
Make Working at Home Work for You
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