I was on a business call recently with an entrepreneur that I admire. The call was addressing the top five reasons that mom entrepreneur businesses fail. As I was listening to the call I was distracted by the clutter in my living room. I was doing my best to not look at it, but honestly, it was staring right back at me. So trying to tear myself from the distractions, I asked the question on the call, “When do you throw in the laundry, empty the dishwasher and clean up the kitchen dishes?”. The answer I got was you work it into the day between calls and meals and clients. After thinking a little more on it, I realize what was wrong with the answer. You don’t. If you are running a serious business and want to be successful, then you are not available to do laundry, empty the dishwasher or make the beds. Period.
Think of it this way, how are you going to achieve results if your time is being sucked up by non-productive activities? When you were in a corporate environment, were you expected to mop the floor and pick up after everyone? That sounds ludicrous, right? Did you have to vacuum in-between assignments and fold the corporate laundry? So why should your working from home be any different? Why are you not valuing your time and getting to work? Even worse. There are people expecting results, including yourself, and seeing nothing. You “appear” to be at it all day. Maybe this is not the right thing for you. Maybe you should get a real job that will pay you money. And just like that, poof, your dream is lost.The very same advantages to working from home, quickly become disadvantages. I love not having to get in the car and drive somewhere, but the problem is, I don’t transition from home to work and vice versa. I love being able to take breaks whenever I want, but how many breaks are too many? I love being able to pick my work hours, but what are those work hours and how are they separated from housekeeping hours?
I was so inspired by this realization that I immediately picked up my laptop and went to my disused office in the basement. You see, I didn’t want to work from the dingy basement like that dorky guy in the movie Office Space because I like the view from the kitchen window. But what else comes with the kitchen window? A view to the dishes on the table, on the counter, shoes on the couch and a dishwasher. That is not the worst thing though about what I will refer to as my corner office, the worst part are the distractions. My husband comes in to make coffee, and chats a little, he takes a break from his work, and chats a little, he gets a glass of water …. You get the picture. This can go on all day long and little my little my minutes are getting sucked away.
Here is how I think of it now, I get up, get dressed, get in my car and go to work. It’s a mental picture. There is no car, just a visual. My office location does not allow me to clean the kitchen, because I am not there. I have left the building. Here is the conversation I have with my husband: let's meet you for lunch. Here is the conversation I have with the dishes: see you when I get back from work.
Big realization. I don’t want to work all day and night. I want to work during my work hours and leave the work at the office. Then by golly, when it’s time for work, I best get on with it!
So what is your rate? What is the hourly amount that you bill your clients? That is what your time is worth. So next time you mop, coupon or make personal phone calls, consider the real cost of that time.
See More Articles by Transition Coach Fez
at http://www.coach2accomplish.com
I thought I was disciplined
It's also a fantastic
I was on a business call
It's also a fantastic
We don't always take the time
Helen, it's that realization
Helen, it's that realization for me how much disipline, discipline really takes. I thought I was disciplined if I sat down a couple of hours a day but I would let the few odd interruptions go. Now, I realize, unlike people that get paid regardless of wether they are working ever minute or not, I don't. I have a six hour window when the kids are in school. I want that to be as productive as an eight hour day instead of more like a four hour day.
Cheryl, I felt the same
Cheryl, I felt the same frustration. This past summer was a wash. Even though the kids had their morning schedule they were still constantly calling for me. By the time you are up and down six times you lose a lot of momentum! Now, with no kids in the house I find myself getting frustrated with myself. Here is what I tell myself now: when I start pulling in 6 figures, someone else will be cleaning this house, all I have to do is get there!
That's really true...I must
That's really true...I must say, I had the same problem as well - kids in and out of my home office all day especially during summer vacation and holidays, which is what I was trying to achieve with the balance of working from home, but to be honest, I felt more frustrated and nonproductive than ever before. PLUS the dirty dishes and chaos in the living room really did drive me crazy to look at - the result? Working until 3:00 a.m. trying to be the "perfect" mom, housewife, nurse, taxi cab, mother, daughter, sister, maid and, oh yeah, run a serious business in between. Right.
Everything here is spot on!
Everything here is spot on! While you can flex your schedule while you are at home, you still need to commit to a schedule and commit to doing the work of work.