Working From Home - Don't Fool Yourself

05.23.09 - When I began doing website design and development back in 2002 as a side job from home, I never thought it would turn into a full time profession for both me and my husband. Back then it was fun to be able to work from home with my two small sons. I'd whip out a website design as they napped in the other room.

As new projects and clients came calling, I ditched my full time position as an IT/Operations assistant and we acquired another website design firm's client list, things got very busy. We ended up remodeling part of our garage to allot for an external entrance into a defined office area.

The idea behind the office addition and remodel project at the time was to have an office area in our home where we could (a) get away from the kids to get projects completed and answer the phones; (b) meet with clients away from the internal portion of our home; (c) save money due to not having to pay towards renting a business space; and lastly (d) keep things conveniently close.

Working in our newly constructed office lasted close to nine months before both John and I were ready to have a breakdown.

If you must work from home, I have some tips for you, but I would seriously reconsider it as soon as possible... Don't believe the glorious notion that working from home is wonderful, especially if you fit any of the criteria below. It's a big fat lie.

Tip #1: If you have small children, rethink a home office
The straw that broke the camel's back was summer vacation. We now have three children and last summer they were ages 7, 5 and 2. As well-behaved as I like to think my children are, they are still kids and behave like kids (ie: drive their parents nuts). Our original plan was that one of us would be with the kids in the main part of our house or outside while the other would work in the office area, answer phones, meet with clients.

Unfortunately, our "plan" didn't account for when one of us would be in the bathroom, shower or have our back turned.

Let me give you an example. While I was meeting with a client in the office space, I hear the kids banging on the door and screaming at the top of their lungs - "Mom! He's pulling my hair! Mom! He pushed me!" Turns out my husband was in the shower. Pretty embarrassing to say the least.

Tip #2: Take a shower.
I'm no stranger to working long hours as a business owner. The long hours would often translate into late nights past 3 a.m. (hey, the kids were asleep and I can really get a lot done!). To keep your mental prowess, you are now sleeping in past 10 a.m. to allow reasonable functioning. Since you're getting up after 10 a.m., your clients are already at work and leaving you messages. You jump right into work answering emails and returning phone calls all while wearing your robe and bunny slippers. Before you know it, 10 a.m. is now 5 p.m. and you haven't showered. And you look like you're the crazy uncle that has been kept locked up in the basement.

Tip #3: Don't tell your relatives or friends you work from home.
Why? Because they think you are hanging out at home ready to hang out with them. Or watch their kids. Or go shopping.

Hey, you work from home. You can do whatever you want - so they expect you to have the flexibility to do what THEY WANT.

It reminds me of that Everybody Loves Raymond episode where Ray is able to work from home and sets up his office in the basement and gets nothing done. My experience was similar only times it by one hundred.

Tip #4: Mow your yard and pick up the toys before your client visits.
Oh, and that trim on the side of your house you haven't had time to paint? You might want to do that. Because the way your house looks and presents itself directly affects the image you portray to your clients.

Exhausting, I know. Now you're at the point where you haven't showered, the kids are screaming and fighting, your girlfriend keeps wanting to know why you can't babysit for her while she gets her nails done, your house is a dump and you have 1 p.m. meeting with a new client to redesign their website. Do you think that new client will want to hire you when you are so stressed out you look like Phil Spector on speed and your house needs some serious Home Makeover Edition? Probably not.

After nine months of wrangling and fighting the establishment (the establishment = my kids, friends and relatives) I decided to save myself my insanity (and make more money!) and take the next step. I rented a business space in downtown Charlevoix.

How's our new office space working so far?
We've been at our new location for a little over 8 months now. I believe we have gotten some clients that we never would have for the simple fact that we have a professional presence downtown, which more than covers the monthly expense of having an office rental.

We've got set office hours. I shower before going to the office now (that's a big plus!) and I can leave the kids and their sibling rivalry at home.

If we don't mow the yard or pick up the big wheels in the drive it's not a deal breaker.

And oh, still need to paint the trim on the side of the house. But I don't stress out about that anymore. Life is good.