Do you work for yourself already? If so, congratulations.
Self employment can be wonderful, but it can provide new challenges all the same. The freedom to call the shots is fantastic. The freedom to call the shots can lead to very bad habits.
I’ve been self employed since 1989. However in the beginning, since I had a retail store, I always considered myself to be working for the customers. For example, if I had a sign on the door that said open 10 to 8, I had to work 10 to 8. Plus some time before to get ready to open, and some time afterward to clean up.
Now I don’t have the retail store, but I advertise our web site in trade publications, and it says phone toll free 10 to 6, so I have to be in reach of the phone during those hours.
That could change this summer if I want it to. I have an opportunity to wind down the web site merchandise pack and ship operation, if I want to, since my warehouse lease is up and I have to either move or shut it down. I’ll probably just move.
In considering how nice it would be to work out of my house in my jeans and t-shirt, I also considered the fact that I know me. I’d sleep in. I’d take breaks. I’d take long lunches, and a nap afterward. I’d get distracted by life. And sooner rather than later, I’d be making less money, and wondering why it it so hard to get back in the groove.
Having restrictions on my daily life is financially beneficial for me, maybe you’re different, but consider it before you choose to work from home. Me, I’ll pay rent on office or warehouse space to be away from home so that I can’t get lazy. It will be somewhere I have to be at by 9 in the morning, and until 5 or 6 in the afternoon. Otherwise I’d find myself eventually working 2 hour days, and that wouldn’t be the best idea in the world.
Tags: Business Ideas, self employment, work from home
