Working at home provides a lot of benefits and the ultimate flexibility for your lifestyle.
You can make your own schedule, and you commute to work is minutes versus hours a day.
Working at home is great, but there are pitfalls to avoid.
These pitfalls can sap your energy and time, and can negatively affect your bottom line as well.
1.
No business hours - If you do not have regular business hours, this will come back to haunt you over and over again.
If your team can not get in touch with you at specific hours on specific days, communication begins to break down.
Another good reason to have established hours is that if you have no set hours, you can end up being open 12 or more hours of the day.
Set a schedule and stick with it.
2.
Available for any chores any time - Work at home people are "easy marks" for friends and family favors.
People think you have unlimited time and can help them out because they are tied down to their job.
You need to be selective on what you do, because once you open the floodgate for favors, it is very hard to get this back under control.
This issue can be a real time stealer for you, so you just need to be careful here.
3.
Trying to mix child care and your business - If you have kids to watch, you need to manage your expectations.
If you have child care and your business competing for your time and attention, neither of them will be cared for well.
This goes back to having a schedule and sticking with it.
4.
Social hours versus working hours - Working and socializing are two very different things.
You need to limit your phone calls to business related calls during your office hours.
A good test for whether of not a call is business or social is: Is this call going to make me income?" 5.
Isolation - You need to have contact to the outside world, especially when you are starting out or having some difficulty.
I am very big on having mentors and sponsors.
Do not be afraid to contact your support team for personal support.
That is what they are there for.
6.
Working too many hours - This one is a killer.
If you are struggling to make money and grow your team, you will be tempted to just work more hours and push a little harder.
This is a recipe for burnout and you need to cap your hours per day and hours per week to a reasonable level.
You will know what your limits are.
Do not exceed them, or you will burn out and become ineffective.
7.
Being a slave to your business - You are working at home so you have freedom.
Do not become a slave to your business.
Managing your time and what you have on your platter are critical here.
Take time off and celebrate your victories.
This will help keep you fresh and effective over the long haul.