Your Home Business Office
Having an appropriate home business office is just as important
as your business itself. Many factors affect how you approach
your work at home business including distractions, proper office
equipment and the overall environment of your business office.
Setting up your home business office properly may not seem like
it's really necessary, but try to picture how your office at
work is set-up. Other than the fact that you may hate your job,
your office is probably well organized, open and contains all
the necessary equipment to perform your job effectively.
A carpenter would not arrive at your house to perform a remodel
without bringing any of his/her tools would they? Of course not.
Thus, your home business office should have all the tools
necessary to operate a profitable business.
Place your office in a strategic location of the house. Placing
it next to the baby's room upstairs or in the dining room are
not appropriate places. Your chosen location should be free of
all distractions like a washer/dryer, kids playing a dishwasher
or a TV. (Taking time out to watch "Friends" while you work is
not productive). Have the attitude that you work from home, not
at home. Hibernating is fine for bears, but not for people. Go
out to make new contacts and keep old ones alive as well.
Particularly if you're a naturally reserved person, remember
that your home's a base, not a permanent place.
Keep your office organized. Everyone has their own way to
organize, but whatever you do, make sure that office supplies
are readily available to you when you need to use them. Get
furniture sized for home offices instead of standard office
furniture. A number of furniture companies are manufacturing
special home-office lines. Smaller furniture is better adapted
to the entryways and available space in most homes. Supply your
home office with a computer, printer, adding machine, telephone,
pens, pencils, paper and possibly a fax. Get a comfortable chair
for your desk. A cheap chair may save you some money in the
short term, but remember, your mind will continue to work only
as long as the rear-end can endure.
Your home office should also have plenty of natural and
artificial light. Make sure there is a decent window in your
selected room. (A pleasant view would be nice!). Place a light
on your desk and in other parts of the room as well.
Lastly, enjoy yourself! After all, you are working at home
without a boss. So go get a cup of coffee whenever you want, or
take a long lunch!