Posted by Sundi Hayes in 
Can you live without the average pointless corporate meetings?
Do you embrace technology?
Can you make sure home is still home?
Do you like to work completely independently?
Before you go out and purchase your URL…
Almost everyone can live without the average pointless corporate meetings. That was actually a gimme. (The the fact the meetings are average and pointless is a direct reflection on how the meetings are run. Not the actual content discussed.)
If technology makes you want to run the other way you may have trouble finding a job. Owning your own business is exactly the opposite extreme.
Using social media and technology to market your business is the quickest way to consistently and successfully promote your business. There are plenty of ways to do it that are expensive and inconsistent so figure out what they are and stay away from them. Trust me on this. Technology must be your friend.
Home is where you live. Chances are pretty good someone else lives there with you. Even if your home becomes your office they probably still leave for work every day. If you are a two business household then you are up for even more challenges. Come to an agreement about what hours are work hours and what areas are work areas. Stick to them.
Now, be flexible. Home is where you go to recharge, reinvent and reinvest in yourself. Make sure you set time aside to do those things regularly – which means you have to shut the office door or the laptop!
“Completely independently” means you are giving up regular face-to-face interactions with peers. If you work better in a room full of people motivated by the same project then maybe you could do it but you’ll need to find ways to meet that need for interaction.
Look for work hubs in your area. These pop up frequently at coffee shops, book stores and libraries. You’ll be set where ever two or more people gather who want to use each other for a sounding board. Sometimes it doesn’t even matter if they do what you do. What matters most is that they are logical thinkers and/or want to play the devil’s advocate when it comes to problem solving with you. If you get the technology bit you’ll know I use the word “gather” pretty darn loosely!
I’ve barely begun to scratch the surface of things to consider. I remember many sleepless nights when I was deciding to launch my Virtual Assistant business. I think it is normal and health so keep a notebook and pen by your bed for these soon-to-begin late-night jam sessions.
Nibbling away -
Sundi