Tool Box
Issue No. 17 - June/July 2004
Home Alone - Self Motivate
All about home-based business discipline
by Reg Templer
A lot has changed in business over the last 10 years and one of the biggest and probably un-noticed changes is the number of people now working or running a business from home. Back then if people thought you worked from home, you appeared to be second rate or a “Back Yarder.” Now all that’s changed, some of the bigger companies are closing the local branch office and making their exec’s work from home.
Working from home from home has heaps of advantages such as saving huge $$$ on renting office space and is great for service based businesses because about one in 10 customers visits your office.
Firstly understand the terminology, working from home, or having your office at home is a very different mindset from having a home business, so don’t mix up the terminology.
I tell people I work from home and my office is based in my home, so we can meet at their business, my office or elsewhere. Because I provide services, it’s beneficial for me to see their business. Secondly, you need to understand that not all businesses are suited to be run from home and depending upon the type, you may need to get council permission.
Working from home requires a different set of disciplines than working from an office with a boss looking over your shoulder and interacting with your co-workers. Because you’re based at home doesn’t mean you’re at home. So learn to understand the difference and set strict guidelines for your behaviour and stick to them or risk getting lost in a sea of confusion and eventually losing your work ethic.
Make it work for you.
Get up and go to work each day, have a shower, get dressed in your work clothes, have breakfast, read the paper and then travel to work, to be there at your designated start time. Take a cup of coffee or a bottle of water with you and start work on time. Work to a schedule and take breaks for morning tea, lunch, and afternoon coffee then knock off on time to travel home.
