My husband and I own and manage our business from home. We also have two young children, which makes things very interesting. This morning, I met with Brandon Uttley of Web Business Freedom, which he runs from his home outside Charlotte, North Carolina.
During our time, Brandon and I discussed the benefits and challenges of running a business from home while young children are underfoot. It's one thing to make a business work. It's quite another to do it from your sanctuary, and with a spouse, babies, toddlers and/or tweens around all day, so I asked Brandon to share some of his tips for successfully owning and managing a business from home. First, he said, you have to know how it will work from a practical perspective. Will you maintain certain office hours? Barring an emergency, is your office off limits when the door is closed? How are you and your spouse going to agree on a plan that provides you with the physical and mental separation you need to get things done at home?
Next, Brandon says that, even though you work at home, you have to maintain a business mentality. For Brandon, this means wearing business casual clothing even though he doesn't have to. He also says that you have to treat your office like an office, not like a convenient place to pile up household items or store children's toys.
These things may seem small, but planning them is every bit as important as planning the business itself. Ask me how I know!!
Question: Do you work from home? What sorts of practical things do you do to work successfully? Share your ideas and experiences in the comments section.
What helps me work from home with a now 9 and 5 year old is I have finally set hours for myself. The kids leave at 9am. I start work at 11am and work (play!) til they get home at 3:30. Then 3:30-8pm is for them. Then at 8pm-midnight (at least) I’m back working. This has helped me tremendously! I’ve even said to my family, “sorry I can’t do that, I’m working”. It is a simple thing but it has made all the difference for me since I started this in January! I’ll have to set new hours for the summer…
What helps me work from home with a now 9 and 5 year old is I have finally set hours for myself. The kids leave at 9am. I start work at 11am and work (play!) til they get home at 3:30. Then 3:30-8pm is for them. Then at 8pm-midnight (at least) I’m back working. This has helped me tremendously! I’ve even said to my family, “sorry I can’t do that, I’m working”. It is a simple thing but it has made all the difference for me since I started this in January! I’ll have to set new hours for the summer…
Here are some helpful ideas:
1. Distinctive Ring on the phone ~ when I am busy working I do not need to be bothered with un-necessary personal calls.
It’s free with our plan – and VERY helpful.
2. Staying flexible. Instead of sitting in the office during office hours waiting for that assignment, pittling around with things, I make the most of any free time – laundry, dishes, bills. Then if the work comes in during a time I should’ve been on something else, I am just that much ahead.
3. Using software and applications for time tracking and bookkeeping that make things SO much quicker and easier to keep track of.
Here are some helpful ideas:
1. Distinctive Ring on the phone ~ when I am busy working I do not need to be bothered with un-necessary personal calls.
It’s free with our plan – and VERY helpful.
2. Staying flexible. Instead of sitting in the office during office hours waiting for that assignment, pittling around with things, I make the most of any free time – laundry, dishes, bills. Then if the work comes in during a time I should’ve been on something else, I am just that much ahead.
3. Using software and applications for time tracking and bookkeeping that make things SO much quicker and easier to keep track of.