How to be taken seriously when you work from home
21/07/2010 send to a friend
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 realised 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:
- You can go to your child's events during school or anytime in the summer.
- If you want to take the day off to spend with your family, you can.
- You can sleep late and work through the night because you don't have to wake up early to get to work.
- You can schedule repair calls or deliveries anytime during the day.
Those of us who work from home "get it." We have flexibility that our corporate counterparts don't have and at times, don't understand. There are a few things you can do to help others realise that even though you have a home office, you're still working.
- Set guidelines and boundaries with your family and friends. They need to understand that you can't take personal calls all day or at times you need to work uninterrupted. It's a balancing act that can be challenging.
- Learn to say no when friends or family ask you to wait for the repair person or a UPS delivery. They need to know that although you're working from home, you're still working.
- Treat your business as a business, not a hobby. That means that you don't work for free. Your time is worth something to your clients. It should be worth the same (or more) to your friends and family.
- Use one e-mail address for personal use and another for business. The goal is to keep your business e-mail address clear for clients and important messages while your personal address is for annoying joke e-mails that your friends can't resist sending.
- Set up two Twitter accounts: one for business and one for personal use. Your personal tweets can include cryptic messages to friends and the latest update of where you are, while your business tweets should be professional and helpful to others who can use your services.
The bottom line is that you can't get everyone to take you seriously but then again, who cares? You have the freedom that others only dream about during their daily commute to work. Eventually they'll come around - probably when they're working from home too.
Lisa Kanarek is a home office expert, author, interior designer and founder of WorkingNaked.com
Photo credit: matt512
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Comments
Author: Judy Heminsley
Date: 21/07/2010
Comment: I love the fact that it's now possible to run a large and highly successful business from home and not have to conform to the old business stereotypes.
A friend of mine has customers and followers from all over the world and yet his neighbours don't have a clue! He once said he enjoys the subversive nature of that and I agree. Power to the home workers!
Website: www.workfromhomewisdom.com
Author: Sharon
Date: 21/07/2010
Comment: Most of my family kind of respect my boundaries - apart from my parents. I still haven't found a poilte way of telling them to go away :-)
I do have two emails & two Twitters - it's good advice.
Website: http://www.baywebdesigns.co.uk
Author: Angela MacAusland
Date: 21/07/2010
Comment: I love working from home - it took a while for my family to not keep popping into my office - just because I was there. After a number of 'I AM WORKING' rants/stickers on the door etc - the visits soon stopped!.
I am afraid I do have a closed door policy - if my office door is shut - I am working, if its open - I am not.
I always keep business and personal separate, Facebook for personal, Twitter, LinkedIn for business. And the same with email and phone numbers.
Website: www.ampmpa.co.uk
Author: Kerry Harvey-PIper
Date: 21/07/2010
Comment: I moved my office out of my home and into my parents' home (into my old teenage bedroom no less) because it became increasingly difficult to concentrate at home with 3 musicians in the house.
I've always had a rule about working from home: I get dressed & put on make up at the start of the day as if i were going out to work as it helps me to feel 'business like'. OK, i don't do the lipstick & heels thing, but at least I don't panic if I get an unexpected Skype call!
Website: www.redgraperecords.com
Author: M.T. O'Donnell
Date: 04/08/2010
Comment: All sensible advice and stuff we all know but it always helps to hear it again!!
Working from Home and with the rise of more on-line businesses means that the traditional 9 to 5 day can be scrapped if desired. On-line companies can work way into the wee small hours and still be productive, successful and profitable.
Website: www.theglasgowgirlsweddingguide.com
Author: Holly Hinton
Date: 05/08/2010
Comment: Great advice! I love Judy's comment on this as my experience is similar. As a stay-at-home mum of two young boys, people rarely ask if I do anything other than look after them and I really enjoy knowing that my online business is successful and growing and has loyal customers worldwide. It's hard to juggle everything around the kids as my eldest is only starting school this September, but the advantages definitely outweigh the disadvantages!
Website: www.hollyshobbies.co.uk