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The Virtual Office: People That Work From Home Don’t Wear Pajamas

January 28, 2008 by Kami Huyse

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looking at mom

 

At least not most days…

On Friday Red/Write Web carried an excellent article about the Work From Home generation.  And while I agreed with much of the article, the part about heading to your personal computer in your PJs made light of the fact that working at home – for an employer or for yourself – is serious business.

So, You Want to Work From Home?

I often talk to public relations professionals that are enamored by the idea of starting their own business and that look at what I do with some envy.

I started My PR Pro in 2002 and I was just like them.  I had always wanted to start my own business.  A move from Washington D.C. to San Antonio, Texas, and a ready-made client in my old employer made it possible to live the dream.

I wasn't prepared for all that self-employment entailed, but as I learned, I found that I loved it.  I also found out that to be successful you must run it like a business from day one.

In other words, get OUT of you pajamas and get a game plan.

Three Big Questions to Ask Yourself

  1. Do I plan to fly solo or do I want employees at some future date?
  2. Will I work from home, or will I rent office space or work out of a shared office?
  3. Do I plan to generate new work directly with companies, do I work as a contractor for other agencies or both?

My answers were that I didn't want employees, that I would work from home to keep overhead low and that I would both have my own clients and work with others to service those clients.

When my husband and I built our house, I made sure the floorplan included an office space so that I wouldn't be shoved into a bedroom.  The first year I worked out of the living room in our apartment and that really stunk.

The only thing that has changed from my initial approach is that I now subcontract some of my own work to others.  I have found that it is the only way to move forward on a growth curve.

The Rewards

  • It is Very Flexible: I have found that independent work affords me some of the flexibility that I wouldn't have with a 9 to 5 job.  Now that I have two children, it is even more important.  Still, the kids go to daycare. I could not keep them home while I am working or both would suffer.
  • I Control My Destiny: I like that I control who I work for and what I do.  If I don't like a project or agree with something, I just don't take on that client.   I like what I do and love who I work with precisely because I can be picky.
  • You're In Charge of Raises: When your skill level permits, you can raise your rates.  This is tricky, because the market also decides what you get paid; however, it no longer depends on if you brown nose the boss, but on your capabilities and accomplishments.

The Challenges

  • The Buck Stops Here: While I control my destiny, the problem is that if something goes wrong its all mine.  Also, the deadline are the deadlines, and while it is flexible, I might find myself working a weekend or evening.  My spouse has to be flexible too.
  • Collaboration Takes Work: Everyone, no matter how good, needs new ideas.  Working on my own I regularly leverage my online community and my offline colleagues to ensure I don't get rusty.  You have to make an effort to get out of the house.
  • Healthcare and Benefits: If we didn't have my husband's healthcare and benefits, I don't think that I would be able to do this.  It is extremely risky to go out on your own without adequate health insurance and disability insurance, but I know lots of people who do it every day.

Some Last Thoughts

A couple of tips for those considering making this move are to hire an accountant immediately, the money you spend will more than pay for itself in productivity.  Join a few local groups, like IABC or PRSA, to network with your peers.  PRSA also has a great Independent section and a somewhat active listserv where people ask questions like, “What should I charge for a focus group?”

Also, I recommend that your find one or more mentors and meet with them regularly.  You need someone to give you career feedback since you will no longer have a review.

Finally, the hardest part of owning a business (for me anyway) has been the promotional part.  I promote the business by focusing on the company rather than myself.  I also promote the business by being a productive volunteer locally and in my online communities.  Here at the blog I try to be a great resource and hopefully the rest will follow.  I think getting out there and being a productive member of the community is probably the best promotion – it has worked thus far.

Do you have any questions about starting your own business, or getting your boss to allow you to work from home a few days a week?

Self portrait by Pilar Delatierra

Filed Under: Community Building, SocIal Media Tactics Tagged With: Humor

About Kami Huyse

Kami Watson Huyse, CEO of Zoetica, is passionate about great communication. Working in Public Relations since 1994, and blogging since 2005, she has seen trends come and go, but one thing has stayed the same – people are looking for ways to authentically connect. She loves to connect with readers, so leave a comment or follow @kamichat on Twitter and connect there.

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