Working From Home

THE REAL WORLD OF WORKING FROM HOME

LaidOffCamp Phoenix

About Me

Self employed in Phoenix since 1995.15 years of working from my home office.Business includes professional services and products.Many configurations over the years.

Session Tweeting

Offer tweet bites throughout the presentation.Chance for you to tweet session highlights.Use hash tag #locphx.Take a breath.

Today’s Goals

Five truths about working from a home office.Suggestions for overcoming challenges.Resources.Empower you to make the best of your home office situation.

Where We Are

IntroductionTruth #1: Your Workspace MattersTruth #2: It’s Lonely in ParadiseTruth #3: It’s All On YouTruth #4: You Run The ShowTruth #5: You Live At WorkConclusion

Truth #1: Your Workspace Matters

Myths About a Home Office

Home Office Components

Recreate the office workspace.Space.Lighting.Equipment.Resources.Organizing tools.

Dedicated Workspace

Doesn’t need to be a full-time office.Storage can be mobile.Locate your office away from time wasting distractions.

Build A Success Team

Your household must understand the ground rules for working hours.Offload or reschedule housework and interacting with your kids.Use childcare if needed.Set boundaries to protect your work time.

Tweet Bite #1

Create a success team from family and friends who support your work at home effort. @Kinchie at #locphx

Choose A Great Chair

Adjustable.Comfortable for extended sitting.Supports the natural back curves (lumbar support).Worth the extra cost.

Ergonomic Keyboards

Encourages proper arm and hand position.Great for touch typists but challenging for finger pecking.

Laptop Computers

Designed for portability, not ergonomics.For regular use, add an external keyboard and mouse/trackball.Raise the laptop so the screen is at eye height when sitting.

Tweet Bite #2

Laptop users should use a separate keyboard and

mouse to avoid repetitive strain injuries. @Kinchie at

#locphx

Where We Are

IntroductionTruth #1: Your Workspace MattersTruth #2: It’s Lonely in ParadiseTruth #3: It’s All On YouTruth #4: You Run The ShowTruth #5: You Live At WorkConclusion

Truth #2: It’s Lonely in Paradise

Irritating People in the Office

Plan Your Social Interaction

Finding Your Own Balance

Isolation:Quiet for thinkingNo interruptions

Interaction:CollaborationSocial needs met

Learn how to assess your current balance.

Tweet Bite #3

Your social interaction needs change over time so stay open to new solutions.

@Kinchie at #locphx

Networking

Maintain professional relationships.Attend professional organization meetings.Find business mixers.Research co-working spaces.Work and meet up in coffee shops.

Social Media To The Rescue

Use LinkedIn for contacts and references.Join Twitter.Limit your personal time on Facebook.Stay visible online professionally.

Tweet Bite #4

Twitter is the best tool for home-based workers to

replace casual work conversations. @Kinchie at

#locphx

Where We Are

IntroductionTruth #1: Your Workspace MattersTruth #2: It’s Lonely in ParadiseTruth #3: It’s All On YouTruth #4: You Run The ShowTruth #5: You Live At WorkConclusion

Truth #3: It’s All On You

Focus Exclusively On Work

You Have More Jobs To Do

Your new jobs:Janitorial services.Buying office supplies.Shipping packages.

If you are self-employed:Bookkeeping.Marketing.Legal.

You Are Tech Support

Upgrades.Maintenance.Backups.Internet service.Replacements.Website / blog software and hosting.Social media.

Help Is Available

Virtual assistants and concierge services.Small project work to part-time support.Trade products and services.Business coach.

Tweet Bite #5

Find a balance between trading for services and paying clients for your

home-based office. @Kinchie at #locphx

Where We Are

IntroductionTruth #1: Your Workspace MattersTruth #2: It’s Lonely in ParadiseTruth #3: It’s All On YouTruth #4: You Run The ShowTruth #5: You Live At WorkConclusion

Truth #4: You Run The Show

You Set Your Own Schedule

You Manage Many Things

What’s On Your Plate

Determine your daily schedule.Break jobs into tasks and schedule them.Keep yourself motivated and on task.Strategy for problem solving.

Tweet Bite #6

In your home office, you are the manager and the worker bee and must be

great at both. @Kinchie at #locphx

Where We Are

IntroductionTruth #1: Your Workspace MattersTruth #2: It’s Lonely in ParadiseTruth #3: It’s All On YouTruth #4: You Run The ShowTruth #5: You Live At WorkConclusion

Truth #5: You Live At Work

Zero Commute

Too Easy To Work

Easy commute to office.Work materials available.Work when ideas strike.

Interesting Statistic

of home workers surveyed around the world say that separating work and home life is the biggest downside to working at home.

Economist Intelligence Unit, “Business in Motion, Managing the Mobile Workforce,” a report sponsored by Alcatel-Lucent, April 2007, p. 2.

Tweet Bite #7

Most home office workers struggle to separate work

from life thanks to zero comminute time. @Kinchie

at #locphx

Create Boundaries

Physical boundary.Alternate internet access.Notepad for ideas.Separate phone line (turn off ringer).

Where We Are

IntroductionTruth #1: Your Workspace MattersTruth #2: It’s Lonely in ParadiseTruth #3: It’s All On YouTruth #4: You Run The ShowTruth #5: You Live At WorkConclusion

Conclusion

Growth Opportunity

Home office pushes you outside your comfort zone.Opportunity to try new things.Great learning and growth opportunity.Captain of your own fate.

Supplemental Materials

My website www.crowinfodesign.comEbook about working from a home officeURL: www.crowinfodesign.com/laidoffcamp.htm

My blog blog.crowinfodesign.comWrite about my life in my home officeURL: blog.crowinfodesign.com/

My social media passportOngoing access to me and my materials