If you're not a professional who works from home at least part-time, chances are you know someone who is. At the very least, you've likely considered it at one time or another as a possibility for yourself. Recently it was estimated that there are more than 40 million at-home offices in the U.S., and that number keeps climbing. In fact, half of all Americans surveyed state they would prefer to work at home if they had the choice to do so. If you're considering working from home, the most fundamental error you can make is failing to take an honest and realistic assessment of your personality to first see if you're the type of person who can meet the challenges of combining your personal and business life. Following are some areas to consider before you commit yourself to becoming a home-based professional. Begin by asking yourself the questions below. Ask the Hard Questions - Are you prepared to work long hours if necessary in a place that can offer a number of compelling distractions? -- the refrigerator, the laundry, pets, kids, etc.
- Do you have the self-motivation and diligence to keep to a regular schedule? If you have trouble arriving at a definitive answer to this question, think of the last time you tried a new diet, or think back to your study habits in school. How much self-discipline do you really have? Are you skilled at staying focused on a task and seeing it through to completion.
- Are you organized? It has been estimated that Americans waste more than 9 million hours a year looking for misplaced items. Do you tend to be able to keep time and materials organized or is this a constant challenge for you?
- Does working at home make sense for you in the context of your family? Is there a place for you to set up an office? Does your business venture (or proposed business) represent a big financial risk? Do you have a fall-back plan in case your business fails.
Before Taking the Plunge A study conducted by an informational Web site devoted to home businesses arrived at seven key tips to keep in mind early on when considering the work-at-home option: - Don't make the decision to become a home-based worker without looking at it from all angles.
- Carefully research any "work-at-home" advertisements that you may have seen and are considering. Many such operations turn out to be scams.
- Advertised "get-rich-quick" schemes rarely produce tangible results. Never send any money up front in order to join one.
- Be aware that home-based businesses often require long hours, especially if you're running that business by yourself.
- When starting your own business, keep in mind that it usually takes time to secure a steady income. And don't forget about start-up costs. Plan ahead.
- Anything you are passionate about for a home business may well be your greatest opportunity for success. But first, do some research and find out if there is a market for the kind of work or business you're proposing.
- Finally, learn good time-management skills before you dive in.
Pros and Cons Consider the disadvantages as well as the advantages that may be inherent in working from home. One one hand, working at home means that you will be your own boss. With that comes some independence and flexibility. You also will avoid the cost and the stress of commuting to work every day, and you may some money by avoiding the necessity of purchasing professional clothes that you'd wear in a traditional business setting. Overall, your quality of life is likely to improve as long as you're able to manage your time successfully. On the other hand, when you work from home you may effectively be "on the clock" most of the time, and may end up working more hours than you originally intended. You'll also be more isolated, with less opportunity for contact with working peers. You'll be responsible for your own insurance and retirement, and you won't have benefits such as paid vacation or sick days. Carefully consider pros and cons such as these to help you avoid some common problems encountered by those who opt to make their home double as their work place.
RESOURCES :
homeworking.com
An informational site devoted to people who work from home.
Web site: www.homeworking.com
Working and Living Spaces: Working at Home
Model: 0823058700
Author: Aurora Cuito, editor
Watson-Guptill publications
The Home Team: How Couples Can Make a Life and a Living by Working at Home
Model: 1889438324
Author: Shirley Siluk Gregory
published by Bookhome
Working at Home While the Kids Are There, Too
Model: 1564143058
Author: Loriann Hoff Oberlin, Loriann Hoff Oberlin
published by Career Press
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