First-time home-business owners know what happens when you eagerly announce to everyone that you are starting your own home-based business. Take heed at this warning. It is highly recommended that you refrain from telling anyone who does not need to know that you are working at home until your business has at least had a good, solid start.
Even later, it is recommended that you only sparingly let only those who, once again, “need to know” this information, be privy to it. Otherwise, you will be surprised to find out how others, suddenly need your help. They assume that you want to help them since you’re at home and can easily accomodate their schedule.
Be prepared for the “urgent” and rather ”creative” demands that they come up with.
When I first started my own home-based business, a long-time friend of mine insisted that I go with her to a new gym that she wanted to try out. Suddenly, this independent woman needed me to go with her, and not anyone else, and it needed to be on a Monday. She pouted when I told her that I was surprised that she would ask me this when she knew that I was working. “But,” she said, “can’t you just come with me during lunch?”
Believe me, you’ll soon learn that you need to establish boundaries, early on and stick to them.
It can be so easy for your spouse to ask you to do some chores around the house while they are away at work. Just do one load of laundry, and oh, the leftovers need to be put away and the dishes need to be done.
It is easy to cross the line when working at home, even without a spouse giving you things to do. You can easily get distracted with phone calls, visitors, chores, the list goes on. If you do not protect your private boundaries from the beginning, you will find that it’ll becoming more and more difficult to get back on track as time goes on.
Decide what your personal and business boundaries are.
Here are some questions that might be helpful for you to have answered.
- Will there be a sitter when the children are sick or on vacation?
- Will you be entertaining clients at your home? (If possible, meet with your clients away from your home or online communications can be very easy to set up.)
- What address will your clients be privy to? (We recommend that you get a mailbox away from your home so as not to give away your location, for security purposes.)
- Will you have a separate telephone or at least a separate telephone line to separate business from family calls?
- What will be your established working hours for your home-based business?
Your spouse and children are not employees (speaking generically). However, your office is still in your family’s home. By developing definite boundaries and sticking to them, everyone will be clear as to where the line is drawn.
You do not bring your business to the home space and they, in turn, should not be allowed to cross into your office boundaries while you are working. Start with the immediate family, those who are closest to you, and that will set the foundation; others will naturally fall into place.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!Related posts:
- Building Your Home Based Business When you dream of starting your own home business, there are many considerations to...
- First Contact is Your First Impression Everyone knows that your first impression is very important. It is very difficult to change...
- On Keeping Good Records for Your Sanity Keeping records is something that most people never consider when they start working at home....
Posted under Home-Based Business General, Posts
This post was written by admin on September 7, 2008
