Part 2 ~Advantages & disadvantages of a home office!

home business, home occupation, home office, home-based office, internet marketing, work at home, working from home

Two days ago, I wrote Part 1 of this article titled “Advantages & disadvantages of a home office”.

Today, I’d like to continue Part 2 of the “disadvantages” of a home office.

So now that you have the bright side (advantages) of a home office, let’s look at the other side. The majority of home-based businesses do not succeed because of a lack of discipline, self motivation and structure. Many people do not enjoy being stuck in a home-based business alone especially if they’ve come from the corporate environment. Some problems that many experience are:

Disadvantages
1. Isolation from consumers and the business world
2. Home chores can come in between of office work
3. Motivation is difficult to attain
4. Business isn’t taken seriously
5. Difficulty in keeping a set schedule and/or routine
6. Family members do not respect the home office
7. Good weather can tempt you to play and not work

1. Isolation from consumers and the business world
Isolation is one of the most hardest problems to overcome when working from home. Establishing yourself as a work at home person takes real effort. Marketing your home based business is an every day task. To stay in touch with the business world one must constantly network with potential clients and become involved in your community.

A great way to establish the connection is to join associations, blogs, forums, and social networks. Stay visible and showcase your expertise.

2. Home chores
It can be difficult to shut yourself off all the chores calling at you when you work from a home office. The attempt to load the laundry while you work can be a distraction. On a work day, abandon all thoughts of housework and focus on your business. After you’ve completed at least half off your to do list, then put that laundry load in.

Put a value on your time and learn to keep a schedule. Eventually everything else will fall into place and it will all become second nature. Self-discipline is key!

3. Motivation
Now that you are the boss, you have decisions to make on the future of your business. It is your job to care about the goals that are to be set make your business succeed. An organized and structured routine is essential to your business plan. Passion for your work and where you see your business leading are all motivational factors that should inspire you to move forward.

4. Business isn’t taken seriously
It is up to you to make or break your business. Goal setting will help you decide whether you are serious about your business. You are on your own so it is imperative that join business networks, forums etc. to bounce off your ideas too. If you need to take a business course or become knowledgeable on certain areas of your business, set defined goals. These goals should give you a definitive answer on how serious you are about your business.

5. Difficulty in keeping a set schedule and/or routine
Working at home requires strict self-discipline. Organization is important to keep your sanity. There are many self-help books such as Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity and One Year to an Organized Life: From Your Closets to Your Finances, the Week by Week Guide to Getting Completely Organized for Good

6. Good weather
This may sound silly, but fine summer weather makes working at home difficult. Living in Florida, I can personally attest to that. If your home office work area becomes stuffy, your concentration level drops and thoughts of going outside become an urgent need. If the temptation is unbearable, plan to work to a certain time and take a couple of hours off to enjoy the sun. Taking a break can actually refresh your mind with new ideas for your business. Take care of you first and everything else will fall into place. A relaxed mind is a motivational tool as well.

Remember, the privilege of working from home is that you can also work late at night and burn the midnight oil so to speak. If you can combine work and play successfully, then by all means do it!

Best of all, keep your head up and success will prevail.

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S. Colon @ May 11, 2008