Opinions on 'working From home'

[exzibits]

Does anyone have any opinions about working from home, network marketing etc etc?

[Dan]

I think its almost everybodys dream. I would love to work from home.

[one]

I work from home, there are some great positives, but some big negatives too.

On the positive side, you save a lot of time by being able to stroll from the bedroom straight to the office, without having to waste time travelling and whatever else. I also save time by not having to iron a shirt and shave everyday!

But like many things, there is also a negative side. For me, I really miss being part of an office environment. I loved chatting with my colleagues and bouncing ideas off them. Now, I speak only with my clients, and even that is done over the phone rather than in person.

There are heaps of other pros and cons, but I need to get back to work - I can't get sucked into that other big issue with working from home - constant distraction! :)

[eversuccesseful]

It is great but you have to be very disicplined and if you think you work less then you are going down the wrong track

[p.daye]

working from home would be the dream for most, but if you lack motivation it could honestly be the end of career. The workplace offers a space that is more directed to the job at hand, and the home offers no boundaries or guidelines, so a 5min tea break could easily turn into a 45 min nap on the lounge. Plus, the whole social aspect is lost. Situational i guess, but i wouldnt be recommending it.

[eversuccesseful]

p.daye you are thinking along the right lines but to work for you self there is no start and stop time you just have to work 12 hours a day
dont let any one tell you other wise
yes you can go and have a lay down on the couch but after a while some thing in your head tells you that you must do some thing
you seem to know when you are on to some thing when you go for that little rest and there is this vioce in your head that tells you it is time to get into it
cheers Peter

[newman]

Working from Home - Best decision I ever made - Also the worst decision. Hey it's almost midnight and I'm still working - not exactly ideal is it...

[eversuccesseful]

Newman what are you into that keeps you going to midnight I hope you get some thing out of it
cheers Peter

[Brendan]

I've got the best of both worlds, one of my companies we have an office where my staff work, I try and be in there a few days a week and the others I work from home.

That way I get the mix of the office environment, as well as the flexibility and freedom that goes with working from home!

I must say though I am working from home more and more.. and prefer that over being in the office.

I think as long as you have a home office and can turn off at the end of the day, close the door and not be tempted to work 'because you can' then it can be great working at home!

[annieshark]

When I'm not at my day job, I freelance write for magazines a home. Love it!

[eversuccesseful]

Yes it is a untouched mine field out there all you have to do is find where you are comfatable
cheers Peter

[silkinteriors]

I work from home but spend a bit of time on the road as well, travelling around Melbourne with our wallpaper sample books. I get lonely when I'm working from home all the time, so it's nice to have the interaction with people.

Brendan - you've definitely got the best of both worlds!

[Noel Evans]

Where I live in Varsity Lakes on the Gold Coast, there are many "home / office" buildings. A bit different to your standard home office insofar as they are designed for it. Clients / visitors have a business entry on many of them. My production office is set up this way as well. Though Im out shooting 50% of the time. I love it. My fox terrier comes to work with me in the office most days.

[J7339]

I currently work from home - quit my government job 3 years ago and started doing my own business full time.

Nowhere where I want to be yet - but getting there. Working long hours - sometimes up to 18 hours a day - but that is what I choose.

I don't know if I could go back to working for somebody else now in an office environment.

It does have positives and negatives - but intend to keep up the pace and continue to work harder at it - until I achieve what I set out to do.

Julie

[eversuccesseful]

Julie
good to see you having a go as it will not come to you unless you get into it
but just be careful as to the hours you work
look at the constructive hours a lot of people work hard but look back and see not a lot
plus watch burn out
I find after 10hours I have to leave it as I feel I just go back wards
cheers Peter

[leisadent]

I've worked from home for 8 years, here's my "pros and cons" list:

Pros:
creative control
flexible hours
no need to dress swanky

Cons:
overheads
tax
blurred line between work time/space and home life

[BuyUSA]

I have worked from home for 4 years and agree that it is great - most of the time.

But you need to be very organised and disciplined. You also have to educate your family and friends that working from home is still working. So even if you can organise appointments etc for during "normal" work hours etc you still can not be at their whims for visits or errands etc. And especially if you do not work = you do not get paid. And yes very easy to keep working as it is always there and there is always something that needs to be done.

[thebookbarn]

My partner works from home as a graphic designer. She loves being her own boss, but she tend to crave human interaction by mid week and heads off to visit friends or family.
I think if you work from home you need to make an effort seek out that social interaction.

[PeggyP]

Regarding working from home...demands organization, setting goals, focus, professionalism. I work best when I'm dressed for an appointment outside of the home. Don't know why, but my head gets into looking and acting the part. I'm talking business casual though, nothing more.

Without written goals I can loose a lot of time and focus. Also, some people who have ADHD stay on task more if there's someone else around. Don't ask me why, I can't explain it, though I've got that bugaboo and I found it's true for me.

So know that you've got to be a tough boss and a good employee. You won't get fired very quickly if you goof off, but you won't get much of a raise either.

[PeggyP]

Regarding Network Marketing...There are a lot of considerations, most of which everyone else has expert opinions about. "So, why not join in the chorus", I say to myself. So here goes. You want a company with a good track record, at least 10 years old, that is product/customer driven. If the company has a good guarantee on it's products, does back-end marketing providing lots of touch points, and helps you get customers so you don't have to bug your family and friends to be involved, then you could be in a business that will keep paying you later for the effort you put in today. And there is effort, even when you find such an animal. But if you like people and want them to get benefits from what you have to offer, follow up is a dream. Picking up the 1 Ton phone suddenly becomes addictive. Helping like-minded people break all the stereotypes would be a rush, too. The follow up coaching calls will satisfy some of your social interaction cravings,
but you should aim to join a networking organization in your community and/or attend trade shows, either as a vendor or a consumer. The contacts you'd make in those settings will keep you sharp and on your game.

[Olivia_Spencer]

Working at home can be advantageous. Saves you money and best of all, your time is in your hands!

[Jason Bishop]

Short and straight to the point, I totally agree :)

[stevenhudson]

Depends on the business…I am in recruitment I need an office to interview candidates apart from that I am happy to work from home.

If you are considering an office, there are serviced offices which are available 24/7 no long term leases and there are the other occupants which you can network with and share ideas etc.

[Think!]

I have worked from home for the last 10 months, I found it easy to keep motivated, I did have a few 2pm naps, but found when I did something like that I would work much harder when I went back to working. I, like a few others, tended to work well in to the night and if I had some spare time would usually flip open the laptop.

I have just moved up to Sydney and am now in an office daily, I do enjoy the office banter and being a little but social. I do also enjoy having a clear distinction between home and work. I think I was able to get more done from home as there are many distractions in an office, but for motivation and encouragement you can't beat being in an office of enthusiastic people.

Ideally it would be a balance with a few days in the office and a few from home,

[Lori]

I absolutely LOVE working from home. I can pick my son up from school so he doesn't have to go to after school care, I get time to go the gym or walk but I do work hard on my business. I'm very passionate about it and I actually love it so it doesn't feel like work. After being in an office for over 15 years, I swore I would never work for a boss again. It's the reason I got into my business and my guiding principle I live by which motivates me.

In saying that, you have to have a passion for what you do because there's no one to drive you but you! I have a DMO (daily method of operation) that I go by every day to make sure I get everything done. Organisation is a must. It's so easy to procrastinate. But if you're motivated and have the desire it's absolutely perfect to work from home. I speak to people all day long so I have my human interaction (and believe me I need it, I go insane without it).

I'm with a network marketing company promoting personal development curriculum - study courses and live events and I agree with Peggy on the previous page about the company having to have great products and a proven track record. Our education program has won prestigious awards and it's changed my life. We also have a giving back program that really appealed to me.

Wish you well in your endeavours! If nothing changes, nothing changes!

Cheers

[The Hobbit]

I work from home, my oldest son works as a Financial adviser from home, my youngest son works from home as Graphic designer. We all have jobs that suit working from home. You must be disciplined and not get distracted and also stop work at a reasonable hour. But it doesn't suit any type of work. All things considered I'd say working from home is great.

[one]

I've been working from home for almost a year now. I do enjoy it, but there are plenty of things I miss about working in a big office, especially being able to chat with my colleagues during the day.

Last time I posted here on AT I was still working out of my apartment, but since then we've bought a house and I have a nice big office downstairs. I've painted it in our corporate colours of orange & white (with black furniture) and stuck a few certificates on the wall to give it that professional feel.

It's so much better having a dedicated office away from the main living areas, and it feels much more like "going to work" each time I come down to the office.

I'll post some pics of the new office once I finish my new year's clean out. :)

[Lori]

That sounds fantastic Shane! Can't wait to take a squiz at your pics! Definitely need a dedicated area to work in. I took over the "x-box room" haha. I have a sign on the door that says "At Work" so when I'm on a call or needing to concentrate, I just shut the door and my family knows not to come in. Working well for now but can't wait to move into a bigger house where my home office will be bigger (with lots of light!).

[Twizzle]

I have been working from home for 4 years now and I love it because it means my kids don't have to go to after care after school, I can pick them up and I don't miss commuting to the city! I don't have any trouble staying motivated because i enjoy what I do. It also means my overheads are lower so I can keep my prices down.:D

[nmsptyltd]

Making money within your own home is a great idea.

1. You don't have to wake up early
2. You can wear whatever you want
3. Family is always within arms reach.

If you can work from home by all means do it.

[eversuccesseful]

working from home why would you want to travel I find that I can do 3hour more work in the same hours. When I don't have to travel. I am at home some times I have to tell people this my job and don't disturb me they seem to think just because you are at home you are up for sitting and chatting
you just have to put them straight
cheers Peter

[sheenagomz]

Working from the home is the best option for women to earn money with managing and taking care of your family members also becasue after marriage and child at some level it becomes very difficult for women to manage family as well as office so work from home is good idea.

[PaulClark]

I personally think working from home is one the best jobs out there
I wouldn't really call it work though
Something about that word, I just don't like lol it reminds me of when i really use to "work"
and to me what I do is more of a hobby that happens to make money :)