Home Office | Home Office Warrior

How Exactly is This Different Again?

Feb 12, 2009

Welcome to the fantastic secret universe of the home office worker. Check your former ways of working, living, and thinking at the door.

If you’re like me, you’ve come to this new world of freedom from a 9-5 (okay, 8-7) corporate job. In my former career there were things I saw that made me want to hurl my laptop out the window. Office politics, blundering management, new policies that were too broad to be effective for everyone but enforced nonetheless… the list goes on.

Not one to point all ten fingers at The Man – I was guilty myself of some poor practices when I worked in an office. Complacency (sometimes), e-mail avoidance (often), procrastination (daily) were my main corporate vices.

Now that I find myself sans boss, in my home office (studio) environment, I’m starting to get a handle on what it means to be in charge of my every day.

The advantages of being independent are obvious:

No boss hovering around or scheduling impromptu unnecessary meetings
I can plan my day around personal errands, meals, time with family
My studio/office is my own to set up according to my comfort and convenience
I decide what projects I take on, my rates, and how to approach clients

Just about everyone dreams of this world. It sounds like heaven to most people headed toward Independent Land.

While these things are all happy little pieces of this home office universe, I struggled at first, trying to understand how this was different from what I used to do. The only tangible changes were lack of a regular paycheck, no commute, and no co-workers.

Over the course of my first year at home I realized that this couldn’t be simply a shift in location, it was a complete mindset overhaul. I wasn’t just trading in my ties for a t-shirt and wool hat.

I realized that:

Complacency kills, but when you’re on your own it hurts more
I have to find my own “co-workers.” Networking, networking, networking.
Sometimes I have to take on projects that aren’t my ultimate dream.
My family comes first, but they also respect my need to work (it’s our nuts and berries)
My bosses were good at challenging me. I have to find other people to do that now.

I no longer have the luxury of a large company’s sales force to fall back on. If I procrastinate or slack off in my marketing, I will feel the stress a month later.

The reality is that the Deep Pockets Corporation doesn’t exist. People are experiencing layoffs and belt-tightening because of the myth that large corporations have bottomless wells of cash. They act accordingly in their day-to-day “just get me to the weekend” mindset and at some point the bill comes due.

Those corporations are just like my small business, only the scale is different. Which reminds me of another realization:

The reality is, there is no weekend. That’s not a Zen koan, it’s just the truth.

Does that scare you? No weekend? No holidays? No paid vacation?

If you want to be a member of the super secret society of home office professionals, you’re going to have to realize that you cannot shut off your brain at 5:30 PM. You can’t “forget about the office” for the Superbowl.

If you’re going to really make a go of this independence thing, you’re going to have to do more than switch your location and your clothes.

That’s why I say “welcome to a different universe.” It really is.

David Billings is an illustrator, animator, and writer. He currently runs two businesses from his home studio near beautiful Mount Hood, Oregon.

Sparky Firepants Images is focused on building kids’ brains to ginormous sizes while they have a crazy time. David creates fantastic, colorful images that complement books and educational media for preschool and elementary-level kids. A unique perspective on children’s publishing and the business of illustration can be found on his blog.

He also uses his technical expertise in creating corporate graphics and presentations to consult with and assist presenters of all types, keeping their audiences rapt with attention. Prepared Graphics focuses on helping individuals and small business owners with great content who don’t want to mess around with that PowerPoint stuff.

David lives with his wife and children on an alpaca farm. No, they don’t really smell that bad.

Advantages of Working at Home, Home Office, Home Office Worker, Mind Map, Telecommuting, Tips and Hints, Tips for Working at Home, Work-Life Balance Written By David Billings Comments (6)

Can you work on water?

Dec 17, 2008

This is a guest post from Alex Johnson. Alex publishes a wonderful blog called Shedworking, which I have quoted and linked to quite often here at Home Office Warrior. If you are not reading Alex’s blog, you need to be. You can subscirbe to his blog by visiting this link.

By Alex Johnson:

Some homeworkers work in the spare room. Some work in the garden office. And a lucky few work on water. There’s absolutely no reason why you can’t work from a boat (ask the many people on cruises who are increasingly making use of onboard internet connections). Look at Archie Workman who runs his Gamechanger consultancy from his canalboat in the UK.

“We have a battery bank of four 12 volt batteries which through an inverter can drive the fridge, television, laptop, mobile phone charger, etc.,” he says. “A small galley at the front can handle the catering for most occasions and a we have a fully fitted bathroom with shower and loo and a fixed double bed in the back if work gets on top and we have to have a lie down. The pace of life on the canals is such that to have your office on water to me is just pure heaven and the scenery can change from day to day. I intend to use it as a floating meeting room where my clients can discuss their projects in confidence but in a relaxing environment.”

Archie is not a one-off. The H2Office is a floating office from Wales-based industrial design and marketing company WaterSpace Developments. It’s still on the drawing board (see images) but initial design features include:

a compact design giving enough space for one or two people to work in

a “private” working area

a “breakout” area for small meetings

an external sun deck

kitchenette

foldaway bunks (for occasional overnight stays)

storage space

bathing platform

“The floating unit’s main function is as a “work space”,” says WaterSpace owner Andrew Masters, “but we are also going to incorporate some features to allow recreational activities and the option to use it as an overnight lodging. If you’re lucky enough to have flexible working arrangements a floating office could considerably enhance your working life.” Andrew is also looking to develop “mini floating business parks” in suitable marinas or other water areas.

Of course you can go the whole hog and actually buy a houseboat as a live/work property. Here’s one of my favourites, the Schwimmhausboat . It measures 14m by 4m high and 3m wide, with sitting room, bathroom, ‘loft, and kitchen. It’s also extremely green (recycled wood, green roof, zero emissions).

Home Office, Shedworking Written By Grant Griffiths Comments (0)

There’s one born every minute

Oct 22, 2008

Sui Generis--a New York law blog.jpg This is a guest post from Niki Black. Niki is a busy attorney who also blogs a lot. In fact she has 4 active blogs which I know of; Sui Generis — a New York law blog, Practicing Law in the 21st Century blog, Legal Antics and Women Lawyers — Back on Track.

One of the joys of working from home is being able to spend more time with your kids. On occasion there are priceless moments that I know I would have never experienced if I my work were confined to an office.

Case in point-one morning last summer, my kids, ages 4 and 6, were getting ready for their day. They had camp that morning and I had a lot of work that had to be done.

After rushing around, we had a few minutes to kill, so my kids were watching tv while I drank my coffee and posted to one of my blogs.

I glanced into the family room and noticed that the kids were watching an infomercial for the “Shark Mop.” My suggestion that we change the channel to PBS was met with resounding dissent. I was a bit surprised by their fervor, but shrugged my shoulders and figured what harm could come of it?

A short while later, my 4 year old wandered into the kitchen and tugged at my sleeve.

“Mommy?”

“Yes honey.”

“Did you know that when you clean the floor you sometimes miss places?”

I was fairly meticulous about keeping the floor clean, so I figured that perhaps she’d stepped in dirt brought in by the dog.

I replied, “I try my best. Sorry if you stepped in something.”

She looked up at me and replied earnestly, “If you had a Shark Mop, that wouldn’t happen, mom.”

I laughed and sent her off to the family room.

When it was time to leave the house, I figured that before we left, we should have a short talk about commercials and infomercials. I explained that the program they had watched was really a commercial. I also told them that not everything you see and hear on tv is true.

My 6 year old furrowed her brows, looked at me petulantly and stomped her foot. “But mom! They tested the Shark Mop. It really works! It’s true!”

“I know they said that, but…”

“Mom! It’s true! It really, really is!” she replied adamantly.

I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. A sucker’s born every minute. Only problem—in this particular case, I couldn’t decide if it was my kids or me.

Best Of, Home Office Written By Grant Griffiths Comments (5)

Home Business of the Year is just the Tonik

Sep 01, 2008

Today, Monday September 1st, 2008, Enterprise Nation, the home business company, announces online language tuition company, Toniks, as the 2008 Home Business of the Year.

Award Judges were unanimous in their verdict that Toniks was the business showing most progress and promise across three areas of business, lifestyle and technology.

Toniks beat off stiff competition from more than 300 other home based businesses to be crowned ‘2008 Home Business of the Year’ and to win a package of prizes including 12 months of a Moneypenny PA, a printing package from Brother worth £1,000 and 10 days access to top London members club, One Alfred Place.

Of the submission. Award Judge, Tracy Vegro said:

“This is clearly a business with even greater potential than its current strong progress has already demonstrated. I think the way it has harnessed new technology like Skype is great and they have taken a very innovative approach in making links with other countries through technology. It’s a great example of a home- based business playing on a global stage.”

The 2007 Home Business of the Year and member of this year’s judging panel, Wendy Shand, had this to say:

“Toniks is boundary-less and shows an excellent use of the internet. It’s an appealing concept for all sorts of different people from my dad to myself. They have impressively re-negotiated their key contracts to increase profit margin which shows an eye for the business detail and need to bring home a profit.

If they can keep ahead of the competition there is a massive worldwide market for their services and they have an excellent (easy to use) website with a tantalising free offering and fab conversion rates (75% of people who see the demo go on to book). I think that for these reasons Toniks has the most potential and is my first choice!”

Karen Hollands was told the news of her win on Monday morning and her jubilant response can be heard at Enterprise Nation

Other category winners in 2008 were:

Young Home Business Owner of the Year
Helen Rhiannon Gill – Helen Rhiannon – Helen Rhiannon

Home Business Couple of the Year
Steph and Paul Savill – Foxy Lady Drivers Club

Home Office of the Year
Justina Perry, – MamaBabyBliss

All winners will receive profile and prizes to recognise the fantastic companies they have started – and are growing – from home.
Notes

The 2008 Home Business Awards were hosted by Enterprise Nation HYPERLINK “http://www.enterprisenation.com” www.enterprisenation.com

In 2008 there were 4 categories of Awards

Home Business of the Year

Home Business Couple of the Year

Young Home Business Owner of the Year

Home Office of the Year

The 2008 Judges were:

Emma Jones, Founder, Enterprise Nation

Mark Barber, Enterprise Editor, The Times

Rachel Clacher, co-founder, Moneypenny

Tracy Vegro, Director of Enterprise Strategy at the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform

Wendy Shand, Founder of Tots to Travel and the 2007 Home Business of the Year

The Home Business of the Year will receive:

A virtual assistant for 12 months from Moneypenny UK

Printing package, including printer and consumables, worth over £1,000 from Brother UK

Accounting software, QuickBooks Pro, valued at £299.95

Senseo coffee machine, plus coffee supplies, provided by Douwe Egberts

10 days of free access to private members club in London, One Alfred Place

The Home Business Couple of the Year will receive:

Two night, full-board stay at the luxury Cotswold Water Park Four Pillars Hotel

The Home Office of the Year winner will receive:

£200 of vouchers from home office specialist, Flujo

The Young Home Business Owner of the Year will receive:

£200 of online shopping vouchers from fashion website, OSOYOU

All winners will receive profile on Enterprise Nation and across media partners, Travelguru.tv, mydeco and Make Your Mark, plus a copy of Emma Jones’ book, Spare Room Start Up: How to Start a Business from Home – packed with useful content for the most successful of home business owners!

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The Great British Home Business Survey

Aug 20, 2008

The largest ever survey of home businesses in the UK is underway. The 2008 Home Business Report is asking home businesses across the land questions on their business, lifestyle and technology, in a bid to uncover what’s happening in entrepreneurial homes.

The survey is timely, with several recent announcements on the rise in the number of people starting and growing a business from home.

Want to know who home business owners turn to for advice, which is the most popular room to convert into a home office, or how much is spent each year on homeworking technology? This survey will provide the answers. It will also reveal the UK’s top home business hotspots.

The survey is being managed by home business company, Enterprise Nation, and supported by BT.

Emma Jones, Founder of Enterprise Nation, said:

“This survey will be the largest of its kind in the UK. Never before have so many home based businesses been quizzed on their ambitions, lifestyle habits and tech tendencies! The survey is being sent to more than 200,000 companies and we’re confident the responses will make for interesting reading. The home remains the most popular start-up location in the UK and we’re about to reveal why this is, and why we expect it to remain so.”

John Anderson, Managing Director BT regions said:

“The home has now become a popular start-up location. More than 5,600 home businesses are launched in the UK each month and BT Business is dedicated to enabling this dynamic community to compete and thrive. We recognise the economic prosperity home businesses bring to local neighbourhoods across the UK regions and the critical role technology plays in underpinning their ability to compete and their long-term growth. Working with Enterprise Nation, we hope this report will help us and our local business network even better understand the current and future needs of this community and how we can help with their broader business challenges.”

The Survey can be accessed via the home page at Enterprise Nation and takes only a few minutes to complete. It is open to anyone who is starting and growing a business from home. The research is being undertaken by Trends Research Ltd and analysed on a regional/postcode basis. Data from respondents will not be shared with third parties.

Full results will be available in the 2008 Home Business Report, launched during BT’s Small Business Week

It will be made available as a free download at Enterprise Nation .

About Enterprise Nation

Enterprise Nation is the home business company. The company hosts the UK’s largest website for people starting and growing a business from home, runs the Home Business Awards, produces the annual Home Business Report and advises Government on the topic.

Enterprise Nation founder, Emma Jones, has just authored her first book Spare Room Start Up: How to Start a Business from Home that was Waterstones business book of the month on publication and is a best-seller on Amazon.

About Small Business Week

Small Business Week is even bigger for 2008, bringing together more small companies, government agencies and business organisations in a wider range of events and discussions, in more locations across the UK.

During the week of 13th October a range of government, business and independent organisations will come together once again to celebrate the country’s 4.3 million small businesses, explore the issues they face, whilst championing their cause and highlighting the opportunities, resources and support structures that are available to ensure this community continues to flourish.

The week will see a host of initiatives and activities taking place at locations across the UK, including a national launch event and debate at the BT Tower in London, a series of ‘Better Business’ events, round table discussions, web seminars, podcasts and advice clinics. Check the site regularly for updates about events in your area and other ways you can get involved.

About Trends Research Ltd

Trends Research brings together several organisations with direct involvement in the UK’s small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) community.

The company carries out a regular monthly survey amongst thousands of SMEs. This Business Barometer survey tracks levels of business performance, optimism and confidence amongst SMEs and is supplemented by other one-off surveys.

The company believes that only through large scale, regular research is it possible to understand SME’s moods and the key concerns. Trends Research is the first to make this possible.

Home Office, Home Office Warrior Written By Grant Griffiths Comments (0)