Managing a Home-Based Business
Craig Warren
http://www.1stworkfromhome.com
Do you have a home-based business?
It’s likely that you are already aware that you are performing double duty.
Not to mention all the calls from family and friends asking you to run errands or simply go out for a day of fun, you most likely work on your business while doing the laundry, calming the kids, or preparing dinner.
Keeping your job and social life apart is one of the most difficult aspects of running a home business.
Here are six time-tested methods for juggling your professional and personal life.
Make a Work Schedule First, Then Follow It
Although it could be tempting to take personal calls throughout the day or business calls after hours, doing so really demonstrates that you are not reliable and that you are expendable.
People will assume that you will always be there for any minor issues that may arise.
Keep to your business hours and avoid the temptation to talk to friends or go grocery shopping during working hours, even if your family comes first.
Your buddies can interpret working from home as an invitation to hang out during the day or simply go shopping or have coffee in the afternoon.
Clearly state that your company hours are simply that—business hours.
Your pals will eventually come to terms with your schedule without feeling betrayed if you save personal calls for after hours.
You don’t have to work the same hours as everyone else just because you have to make a work schedule.
Setting your own hours to coincide with your most productive periods is one advantage of working for yourself.
Being in tune with your body’s natural rhythms will help you accomplish far more, regardless of your sleep schedule.
Some individuals work in the morning, take a break when the children get home from school in the afternoon, and then work again in the evening.
You’ll discover that things get done more quickly, easily, and effectively if you plan your work hours around when you’re most productive rather than when you’re dragging yourself along during everyone else’s strict work hours.
Having a separate business phone line, or at the very least, an answering machine or voice mail to accept incoming calls, is helpful if receiving personal or business calls after hours is an issue.
Additionally, clients will perceive your company as more professional than if you and your family use the same phone line to make and receive calls.
Try to keep your home office and the rest of your house apart if at all possible.
A room partition or screen might be as useful if you lack the luxury of a separate room.
Additionally, it’s a visual reminder to your family that you’re working and shouldn’t be disturbed.
When working, dress and conduct yourself professionally.
During working hours, some people find it useful to wear casual business clothes.
This serves as another evidence that working from home does not diminish your professionalism.
Keep your kids off the phone during business hours and answer the phone using your name or your company’s name.
Additionally, invest in the equipment you’ll need to perform your work well.
Your home office can be transformed into a real workspace with the use of a cell phone, fax machine, or even an inexpensive computer.
If you follow all of these recommendations, you’ll likely find a routine that not only makes you feel productive and active when managing your business but also communicates that you mean it.
Resource Box
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