5 Things to Expect When You Start Working from Home
I’ve been tagged again – twice. This time, by my friends Carolyn and Griffin. I guess that makes me either one of the slowest kids on the playground, or just popular. I’m going with popular 
.
So rather than subject you to more off-topic stuff about me, I thought I’d bring the meme back to my topic and do 5 things, home-based business style. So without further ado, here are 5 things you can expect when you start working from home…
1 – Your neighbors will think you’re out of work, dealing drugs, or a writer.
2 – Surfing the net, reading blogs, and buying books and magazines is now research.
3 – Telling people you are a consultant and telling people you are a goat farmer will elicit the same response. Goat farming is easier to explain.
4 – There is no water cooler, and your dog is not interested in discussing what to expect when “Heroes” returns.
5 – You are your IT department. That means you’ll have to:
- become tech savvy,
- find a techie friend, relative, or neighbor,
- have your 10-year old help you,
- or, only as an absolute last resort, call one of those cute-car driving, electronics superstore tech-on-call places to have a guy who was selling CD’s last week come fix your $3000 laptop.
Running a home-based business is one of the greatest paths to fulfillment I know of. It can be a silly life, but that’s what makes it great. Life shouldn’t be boring, it should be fun.
So welcome to the work at home life – the only kind of work life I ever want.
This is great Tony! I sooo resound with the goat farmer one.
The biggest thing I found was having people not take my work time seriously, and pop in unannounced and figure I’d be ready with a boiled kettle and an hour to chat any time they did. [I'm still training my in-laws...sigh]
I think your point 2 is the BEST thing about working for yourself – especially the time reading blogs like this one, and the time spent in bookstores that I no longer need feel (so) guilty about.
Bring on the fun! It’s never dull when you’re working from the nest…
Umm…you included being a writer with being out of work and being a drug dealer. I hope you didn’t mean that the way it sounded.
Diane (a work-at-home WRITER)
Karen – I completely agree with the not taking your work seriously part. Most of the folks I work with who start home businesses spend a good deal of time getting friends and family to understand that it IS work – and that you have a schedule just like someone with a “real” job.
Diane – As I writer myself, I meant that with the utmost love
. It’s funny how “writer” is one of the main assumptions I hear about someone who’s home all the time. I think it goes back to so many people having the dream of living the “writer’s life,” and wanting to be living it themselves.
I found you via mybloglog and enjoy your writing style and just grabbed all your podcasts for my commute this week. Great job, keep it up!
A new fan,
Rich
We can rear goats at home? How did you do that? =P Nice list!
I can relate to #1 best… “What you don’t have to go to work?! Did you lose your job or what?”
Your posts are really funny and interesting. I will definitely come back for more! Continue posting.
Rich – Thanks for dropping by and for the kind words. MyBlogLog is quickly becoming one of my favorite online tools. I’ve found some awesome new blogs, and some new readers.
Kian Ann – No goats yet… But I have to admit, I’d love to have some to avoid having to cut the grass. I’m guessing they don’t work as well as they do in cartoons, though.
Jasmine – I appreciate the wonderful feedback. Thanks for visiting.
Nice post! Nice blog!
I have been working from home for the last 3 years and people still don’t think I work. Most think I probably just browse the internet for fun. OK well it is fun but you know what I mean… haha
Might not be the right place but came to notify a serious thing.
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Steve – I know what you mean. I’ve been working from home for 15 years, and people still wonder what it is that I do. Hence “goat farmer.”
Ashish – Thanks for the heads-up.
I don’t think Peter goes nuclear and blows up NY. Something he does stops it from happening. Hmmm, I remember Hiro saying something about a scar… maybe he gets into it with Syler, absorbs his power to know how things tick, figures out Syler and takes his powers before Syler can get his…
Barb, interested in discussing what to expect when “Heroes†returns
Is there a “water cooler blog” out there?
Barb – Yeah, if he did, that would be a short run for such a hit show
I like your theory. The only one I’m sticking to is that HRG is the one with the ability to block powers, not the Haitian. Now that I’ve officially written that, I’ll probably be wrong.
Maybe we need to start a water cooler blog or forum for work-at-homers. Great idea.
is there a writer in the house!!!! I’ve learned much from this guy Tony – http://terrywhalin.blogspot.com/ Enjoy.
Buck
Hi Buck – Thanks for sharing the resource with us.
Is HRG the cheerleader’s father? Was he around when the psychic first blacked out? I could see how you could come to this conclusion, particularly when Syler wasn’t able to do anything when the dad came to talk to him in isolation, yet he was able to do something with the girl who controlled minds (I was so sad to see her go).
Yes, please – I think a water cooler blog would be great.
Great post Tony! I definately resonate with #2. That’s my favorite part of my job… I love reading and exploring.
I have to say that working at home I miss #4. I miss some of that fun chit chat about TV shows and little things.
Thanks, Kirsten – I agree, being able to find cool new sites and resources as part of your job, rocks.
Barb, sounds like we might have another taker in the blogger water cooler thing