Working from Home In the Current Economy

You know, I quit listening to the news. All they talk about is doom and gloom, and yet my businesses are doing better than ever. Amid the notices of job losses are bits of hope - including the fact that working from home is more popular than ever.

When I was just a wee little girl, my parents owned a pest control company in Seattle. Mom ran the office out of a spare bedroom in our home, Dad went on the calls, and we had a great little company. That's where I learned that a woman's place can be BOTH in the workplace and at home. I knew I wanted a career (it was the 70s, after all) and I knew I wanted to be a mommy (I'm the oldest of 8, after all) - what I didn't know was how to be both.

To be sure, working at home, in a virtual environment, requires a bit of discipline. My desk is in a niche of my dining room, just off the living room. I like it that way, especially since I also homeschool. It allows me to be aware of what's going on around me, at least most of the time. I'm close to the door, close to my kids, and more or less aware of the TV.

On the other hand, I still have to get up early, take a shower, and get dressed to shoes. I don't start work until I look like I'm going to the office - hair done, makeup on, shoes on. And I require myself to be "at work" at 9am. My day is generally scheduled pretty tightly - educating my kids, 9 till 12, then the rest of the day is reserved for business. I "close" at 5pm promptly although I tend to continue to work a lot longer. I find that if I keep "office hours," my time is respected.

Now, I work at home because, well, I'm the boss and I designed my companies that way. For those who are employees trying to persuade a boss to let them work at home, try pointing out how it will benefit them. You're able to work a little longer during the day, can be more productive, don't need to take sick days unless you're REALLY sick (like I was last week -- flat on my back in bed, but still answering e-mail), able to be available around kids' schedules, etc. I've been able to do business at the ice rink, at the park, at McDonald's where I took my kids to play for a while (free WiFi, hooray!).

My favorite part of working at home, of course, is being there for the VIPs in my life - my beautiful children.