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When You Work From Home Don't Forget Your Other Responsibilities
I have seen it time and time again, and I have to be honest I sometimes forget my other responsibilities when working from home. This article will help you focus on your ability to work from home and ideas to keep the two separated. If you do not follow these tips you will find yourself mixing work with personal time only getting to the point they become one.
House phone- Hello.
With you working from home it is always a good idea to have a separate house phone from your business. If you want to use your cell phone, that is always a good viable option. If you don't want to be tied to either of those I would consider looking into Skype. You can obtain a direct number on Skype that way thousands of people all over the world don't have your personal number.
There are also programs like Grand Central which is a phone number not attached to any one location. The number is programmed through the internet to any phone you are currently using or to a voicemail of your choice. A great feature of Grand Central is that you can deem certain phone number as "SPAM" just like you would in your email. This keeps all the telemarketers at bay and not calling you every 5 minutes. You also have the ability to give certain people or companies certain ring tones through your phone to easily identify them.
If you decide to keep your personal phone number for your business, you could consider teaching your children how to answer the phone professionally. Teaching them what to say and how they say it should have a huge impact on your business.
Keep Your Cool
Just as life happens and you have done everything possible to keep your business and personal life separate, the unforeseen happens. You have to take care of it when it does. While you work from home you do have tons of responsibilities to your family and friends, make sure there are times your spouse is "on duty" for any issues. There are going to be times that you are on the phone trying to close that big sale or signing on a new client. There will be times you are on the phone and you hear a blood curdling scream. Here are a few options to consider:
Have a back up adult watching the children and house as you are working so you don't have to drop everything.
Apologize and offer to call the client back in a few minutes.
Whatever you do, don't lose your cool and start yelling at the kids or your spouse. While this screaming may be embarrassing to you at the moment, the client will see that you ability to keep a level head in many different situations.
Obstacles Are Abundant
If you have children, you will definitely have times where they become sick and probably yourself as well. There could be times when a storm rolls in and you lose power or your computer could freeze up. There could be times that you may be asked to build a presentation and you get creative blocks and mentally you cannot provide good content. Working from home is dealing with life as it happens; the good, the bad, and the ugly. There are going to be times that you just cannot meet a deadline. I am one that would rather extend the deadline then put out a project that is not finished. In a previous article I remind people that if they put out a project, it's their name on it and it can affect their "brand." If you have a conversation with your client and explain to them up front, they will have more respect for you. Although working from home does help you have the lifestyle you want, your responsibilities to your children and family should be number one. Below are a few tips to help you from being put in an awkward position with your client.
Strength in Numbers- If you are like me, you have built a rock solid foundation of friends in your industry and have masterminded and networked with other likeminded people. I know I have such a great relationship with many of them; they will help fill orders, make phone calls, or fill in at a presentation if needed.
Prepare Now- Depending on the type of business you are in you may have the ability to work ahead. It is always a good idea to have a few good ideas to present to the client before they give you any payment. This not only builds trust but also the sense you are proactive and not reactive. There are going to be times that your responsibilities at home keep you from business, just prepare for that in advance.
You Are Your Own Boss
When you work from home, you are your own boss. You have to decide what is more important then something else; you are the one that sets the priorities. You need to keep yourself accountable to how you spend your time. There are some people that work from home and bill by the hour or straight commission.
I would recommend not only keeping track of the time you spend on your business but also your personal life. While working from home you have your mind wondering on all the things that need get done like laundry, dishes, mowing the lawn, and cooking meals. Sometimes you will find that you are spending too much time on Facebook, Twitter, house chores, or on the phone. If you find yourself spending too much time on activities that do not produce an income, it's time to rearrange.
Finally Get Support
Getting support from your family will be a huge benefit of yours. Allow your family to know what your plan is; not only long term, but short term. A daily plan not only helps keep you on track but also allows your family members to help keep you on track also.
I know some families that support their "work from home" family member by not allowing them to work in their own space. They don't allow them to work in the living room, kitchen, or areas the entire family frequents. This keeps them on track by not mixing business and pleasure. Working from home can be a very beneficial, but challenging task. Key elements to success are planning, flexibility, and persistence.
