Home office

How to be Taken Seriously When You Work From Home

July 14, 2010 By Lisa

The other afternoon when I went to Costco, I ran into a friend I hadn’t seen in years. He was dressed in shorts and a t-shirt so I figured he’d been laid off. I was wrong.

Later that day, I called a mutual friend and she told me that six months ago my friend started his own business and was doing well over six figures. As I clicked off the call, I realized that I did to him what others have done to me for years. I’d assumed that because he was running an errand in the middle of the day and was casually dressed, he wasn’t working.

It’s no wonder that others have trouble taking us seriously when we work from home. Consider why: [Read more...]

Filed Under: Balancing home/office Life, Making money from home, Time mgmt./Productivity, Working at home Tagged With: Home office, Home Office Tips, taking working from home seriously, working from home

Blood, Sweat and Home-based Business Fears

June 28, 2010 By Lisa

Working from home is hard work, but at the same time it’s scary.

When you first start working from home and you’re spending time growing your business, it’s normal to face a few worries along with fear. Aside from figuring out how you’re going to grow your business, you have to worry about how to pay the bills, where your next client will come from and how to keep your family from turning on you because of your crazy hours.

For some people, fear is a motivator. For others it’s the first step to feeling discouraged. While being motivated is a good thing, being paralyzed with fear and weighted with worry can dampen your spirits and possibly keep you from growing your business.

You can’t get rid of all of your fears but there are a few ways to tame them.

Don’t quit your day job. Lately I’ve been reading about business owners I thought were doing well but it turns out that they work full time during the day and work on their business at night. When they make enough money, they’re going to quit their job and focus on their business full time.

Go for the low-hanging fruit. If you left a corporate job to work from home, turn to your old employer as your first client. The company won’t have to train you, pay your health insurance and give you two weeks off each year. If you left your last job on bad terms, skip to the next tip.

Use skills not related to your business to make money. If you’re handy with a hammer, have an eye for design, or can landscape like nobody’s business, get to work. There’s nothing wrong with taking odd jobs to supplement your income or in some cases to serve as income until your business takes off.

Filed Under: Balancing home/office Life, Home office setup, Improving your web site, Making money from home, Working with clients Tagged With: Entrepreneurs, Home office, overcoming business fears, Small business, Working at home

Are You Listening to Your Clients?

June 14, 2010 By Lisa Leave a Comment

I don’t always listen closely to what others say (I’m working on it) but when it comes to my clients, I’m all ears. In fact, the reason I converted my organizing business into a full-service working from home consulting firm was because of client requests. Folks weren’t calling me to get help organizing closets and kitchens, instead they wanted help setting up a home office and learning how to work from home.

Not long after that, my clients asked for a book about keeping their home office in shape and their homebased business on track. After I did some research and found out that a home office book that would help my clients didn’t exist, I listened to my clients.

I wrote a book outline and then contacted a literary agent who had a home office, and she agreed to represent my book. (This is a simplified version of events, but you get the idea.) She sold the book within three weeks and four books later I credit my clients for directing my business.

If I hadn’t listened to my clients, I wouldn’t have changed my business focus as soon as I did. Also, I wouldn’t have a series of books under my belt and a blog that gives me the opportunity to share home office advice and tips for working from home.

Are you listening to your clients?

Filed Under: Balancing home/office Life, Home office setup, Making money from home, Working with clients Tagged With: Growing your business, Home office, listening to clients, Working with clients

5 Ways to Make Your Home Office Safe

May 14, 2010 By Lisa

Don't forget about safety when you work naked.

If you have kids, you probably remember the baby-proofing stage when you had to install cabinet latches, toilet locks and baby gates. I realized it was time to remove the locks when my younger son showed his babysitter how to use them.

Taking the time to make your house safe for your kids is important, but who’s keeping your office safe for you? All it takes is one fall to break a leg and you’re out of commission for weeks. (Although you can milk it and get your family to do tasks and errands for you that normally they wouldn’t.) Either way, an injury is still inconvenient. There are a few steps you can take to safety-proof your home office. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Home office organizing, Home office setup, Working at home Tagged With: Home office, Home office accessories, Home office safety, Small business, Working at home

Need a Kick in the Pants While Working From Home?

May 11, 2010 By Lisa

When you’re working from home, you have to be your own cheerleader, support system and #1 fan. The reality is it’s not always easy to keep plugging away at your business when there’s no one around to give you a pat on the back.

I just finished reading Susan Wilson Solovic’s book, The Girls’ Guide to Building a Million-Dollar Business, and it was the fire under my tush that I needed during a long week of feeling burned out. Some of my favorite morsels of motivation from her book include:

There’s really no such thing as an overnight success. It takes time, and undoubtedly there will be a lot of No’s along the way. “No” is never the end of the story in the business world. “No” is merely an obstacle in the road to maneuver around.

If you have a desire, a passion, to really build something—to create an entity that is bigger than you by yourself—then, embrace your dreams. Don’t ignore them.

Don’t let life’s disappointments and hurts prevent you from going after your dreams and living your life to the fullest. Never, never, never give up. Every day take action to make it happen.

Filed Under: Balancing home/office Life, Making money from home, Time mgmt./Productivity Tagged With: Home office, Small business, Working at home

You Don’t Have to Feel Boxed-in With a Computer Cabinet

May 5, 2010 By Lisa

This computer cabinet from Hooker Furniture includes a drop-down desk, file drawer and pullout keyboard and printer shelves.

A computer cabinet, armoire or an “office-in-a-box” — they’re all the same thing — offer more storage shelves and file drawers than before. Between white boards, drawers and extra storage bins in the door, armoires are filled with function. As with anything, including furniture, there are always advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:
•Compact and ideal for when space is limited
•You can close the doors at the end of the day
•All of your equipment fits inside
•Some have drop-down desks and file cabinets that roll inside
•It can blend in with the rest of your home

Disadvantages:
•Not all cabinets have legroom
•There’s not always enough space to spread out papers
•There’s limited filing space so you’ll need a cabinet nearby

Something to think about: If you decide to buy a computer cabinet or any other home office furniture, plan ahead and measure your space. One of my client’s enthusiasm for a new computer cabinet was squelched when she realized on delivery day that the cabinet she bought couldn’t make the turn at the top of the stairs.

Filed Under: Home office design, Home office products, Home office setup, Working at home Tagged With: computer cabinet, Home office, Home office furniture, Home Office Tips, working from home

How to Survive a Home Office Move

April 26, 2010 By Lisa

Moving from one home to another can be stressful. Having to move your home office while keeping your business running can put you over the edge.

The last time I had to move my home office I dreaded it, but it turned out that my move was less stressful than I thought it would be. I credit the smooth move to planning ahead. Here are a few tips that helped preserve my sanity during the move:

Take the time to measure your new home office space and your existing furniture and plan out where you want everything to go. I laid out my office on CAD – computer-aided design – but you could do the same with graph paper and a pencil. If you don’t plan ahead, you may face the same fate as a friend of mine who ordered a top-of-the-line armoire that was too big to round the corner at the top of her stairs. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Home office organizing, Home office setup, Working at home Tagged With: Home office, moving your home office, working from home

Working From Home While Driving Your Family Crazy

April 23, 2010 By Lisa

You’ve chucked the corporate world (or you were smart enough to bypass it) and you’re working from home. While you may be feeling calm and sane, your new arrangement may be driving your family crazy. Does anything on this list describe you?

Your family is so used to seeing the back of your head while you’re sitting in front of your computer, they don’t recognize you.

Your family mentions a vacation and you laugh. Uncontrollably.

You spend more time looking at your handheld than at your spouse and kids.

Your family can’t interrupt you, but if a client calls all bets are off.

You make it clear that unless the person walking into your home office is bleeding or being attacked by wild wolves, they need to turn around and leave.

When you realize that your family sees your perfect working arrangement as less than perfect, you can bring some sanity back into your home.

Filed Under: Balancing home/office Life, Making money from home, Working at home Tagged With: Balancing home/office Life, Home office, working from home with kids

What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

April 7, 2010 By Lisa

Take a close look at your business. Do you enjoy what you do? Do you take risks and make an effort to get out of your comfort zone? Maybe what you’re doing now is only a fraction of what you could be doing. In this video, learn ways to grow your business and make sure that one of the things you’re going to be when you grow up is happy.

Filed Under: Working at home Tagged With: Entrepreneur, Home office, Small business, Working at home

Power is Good, Especially in Desks

April 6, 2010 By Lisa

Caretta workspace For years I’ve tested, used, taken apart and otherwise analyzed home office furniture for articles in magazines and on websites. What I’ve found is that home office furniture that’s stylish, functional and includes solid wood features, all at a reasonable price, is rare.

The Caretta Workspace collection is a beautiful exception. My favorite part of the collection is its cable management system (the ability to organize tangled power cords), which means that finally you can hide those annoying, ugly power cords.

Not only does the collection include solid cherry features, there’s a locked laptop section that’s temperature-controlled (no more overheating), a monitor holder and built-in lighting. This furniture line is warm and sleek and can be configured several different ways. That’s especially helpful if you plan to move or you like to change your office around once in awhile.

This is a case of you get what you pay for and in this case, you get a lot for your money.

Filed Under: Home office products, Working at home Tagged With: Caretta Workspace, desks, Home office, Home office furniture, working from home