In 1999 I started doing small paid projects and teaching classes on business, but I was still working part-time as a paramedic in Oakland, California. I went full time self-employed, finally, in 2001. This month marks Heart of Business’ 10th anniversary.
Ten years of paying the mortgage, making the bills, and living life. That’s a big one! I don’t usually make a big deal about birthdays and anniversaries, but perhaps I can be prodded into a celebration later this month.
Right now I’m reflecting on what is perhaps one of the most important, but least talked about aspects of being self-employed.
As I reflect, I can hear bangs and bumps upstairs from our twins, as my wife somewhat patiently explains to them not to dump the as-yet uncooked scrambled eggs on the floor. I couldn’t make out what she was saying- I learned it was scrambled eggs because I had to take a bathroom break, which means going upstairs, walking through the kitchen, greeting the boys with their bowls of eggs, and then walking back down stairs.
If you work at home, you know how hard it is to maintain focus and get real work done. Whether or not you have kids, there are so many wonderful things to pull your attention, whether it’s the bathroom that needs to be cleaned, the closet that needs to be reorganized, or a couch that needs to be sprawled on.
It took me quite awhile to get into the groove of working from home productively. At this point I can’t imagine leaving the house for fifty hours a week to go work somewhere else.
In honor of the ten years I’ve been doing this, I thought I’d share ten insights into living the self-employed life.
1. Don’t be too disciplined.
There’s a lot to be said for discipline and focus, and yet there’s a lot to be said for going with the flow.
There’s only so much you can get done in a day, a week, a month, or a year. And it’s less than you might imagine, mainly because creativity needs blank space, doodle space. Not just non-work down time, but work-related down time.
If you try to be too disciplined and focused, you’ll lose the juice of creativity. So you spent an hour at your desk doing nothing, it’s okay. Now follow it up with twenty minutes of productive focused work, and you’ll have gotten a surprising amount done.
2. Be careful at the grocery store.
In between, or in the middle of, challenging projects it’s easy to drift into the kitchen for a little nosh. I find it very hard to every second resist eating what I shouldn’t.
However, if I don’t buy it, and it’s not in the house, I don’t eat it. Simple enough. I do try and get healthy snacks that still satisfy me. Current faves include roasted seaweed, medjool dates, Oskri bars, and beef jerky from Pine Mountain Ranch.
3. Make appointments outside the house.
I can get into ruts where literally DAYS go by without leaving the house. Well, not so much now that we have kids, but before the boys came along, in the dead of winter when it’s raining continually, Thursday morning I’d realize… hey, I haven’t been out since Monday.
Not healthy. Don’t depend on your will power. Set up appointments to get out.
4. Give your business it’s own space.
My business email doesn’t come into my iPhone. My business phone line only rings in the office downstairs. In fact, nearly everything related to Heart of Business stays in the downstairs office.
However you choose to interact with your business, give it it’s own space so at least you have the choice. If your business is fully inhabiting all of your living space, then you don’t get to choose what works for you. It’s own phone, desk, filing system, book shelf, and if you can do it, room with a closing door.
5. Nap when you need to.
Sleep is so critical. And when we’re living our busy lives, sometimes night time rest gets shortchanged. If you’re at an office, you can’t take a nap. Working from home, you can. Do it. Seriously.
6. Learn from others.
Other people have been working from home for a long time. Charlie, Michael, Sarah, Molly are all doing an amazing job.
And, if you want to step it up a notch, you may even want to have an Inspired Home Office.
7. Know thyself.
When you first start out working at home, you may not know yourself, but if you pay attention, you soon will. When are you most productive? When do you tend to droop? What works for you?
Some people love working in cafes, some don’t. Some love working in the early morning, some prefer later afternoons, some late evenings.
Do you need paper to doodle on? A big whiteboard? Do you need visual reminders? Does clutter bother you, or is it an inspiration to your creativity?
For me, I can tolerate a certain amount of clutter and still focus. Periodically I clear it all out back down to clean and clear, but that’s not how I live and it works for me. I also tend to be productive early mornings, and strangely enough, later afternoons. After 7pm I’m pretty much toast, work-wise.
8. Get help with your office.
After getting some examples (#6) and learning about yourself (#7), then get some help.
For me, I can do a certain amount of clean up or organizing on my own, but for larger projects I need help. Even if it’s just my wife sitting and talking to me while I get started.
Don’t go it alone.
9. Give it up if it doesn’t work.
If you’ve given working at home a real go for a couple of years, and you realize it’s not working for you, try an alternative. Rent a small apartment nearby. Try a co-working space.
If you need the total focus that a completely separate space provides, go for it. It does make for an additional expense, but so does owning a home large enough to have an extra office.
10. Enjoy it.
Ten years later I’m still amazed that I can completely set my own schedule. Take Tuesday morning off to go tree-climbing with an arborist friend? Decide to work four-day work weeks?
Yes, I do sometimes work weekends, evenings, or long hours when projects ask that of me. But far more often I’m enjoying my schedule.
Now excuse me while I go upstairs for a couple of medjool dates and to play with my kids for a bit. I’ll be back down in a bit. 🙂
How about you? What works for you working from home?
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53 Responses
My goodness — 10 years already! It’s amazing how quickly this decade has passed.
I just want to say thank you, Mark, for being an amazing teacher and a powerful and transparent role model as a business owner. And may I add an insight to your list — something that you taught me that has meant EVERYTHING to me and my business:
11. Remember to Remember. Remember to bring your spiritual practice into your work, and your work into your spiritual practice. Remember to be grateful for the lessons, the learning and the blessings. And remember to be grateful for the teachers who show you how to take the next step on the journey home.
Kathy- I know… crazy that it’s been ten years. And yes, I love your #11. 🙂
This is a great article Mark, thank you. I have many of the same things in place as you have said, and I would really like to highlight the ‘nap’ one (No. 5). Even when I was a student in my twenties I found that if I put my head down on my desk for just 20 minutes after lunch, my capacity for work increased enormously for the rest of the day. Now, 30 years later, the same is true. I CAN go without my nap – but I achieve better quality work and more of it in a shorter space of time if I have the nap. And I can, so I do!
Hi Jane- the nap is absolutely worth highlighting. So critical!
I think it takes courage to be self employed, especially if you have a family to support. So congrats for the 10 years! Your the first to say “nap when you need and don’t be too disciplined”, and i think it’s great to have such a mentality. When it’s time to work, work, but when it’s time to have fun – then go and have some fun!
Thanks, Mia! Fun is definitely not worth missing out on.
Absolutely loved reading it man. I’ve always wanted to be self-employed and hopefully blogging will provide the platform for it.
Harshit- Great! I bet you get there. 🙂
Dear Mark,
I woke up at dawn with a nightmare about returning borrowed money. I spent time meditating and with Remembrance, this time pleading insistently. Yours is the first email I read. How fortuitous! Timely! Appropriate! Thank you to Source and you! I do hope you have a swell celebration this month. You and all at Heart of Business that I have encountered have been such a gift to me.
I
Joya- so glad this was so helpful to you. Remember- you are only six months in. There is time to figure it all out… in fact, some of it you won’t figure out until you’ve been at it longer. There are patterns and insights that won’t come without more time spent. And congrats on your first six months!
I’ve been doing this solo thing for almost 25 years (holy bat girl!) and your list is a beauty – and so true. Thanks for being you my friend.
25 years! I had no idea, Jen. I think I may need to interview you on the topic. Maybe you and Molly, and who else?
brain dead, no idea but short interviews on self-care for solos could be a great series!
Sounds perfecto, Jen. Let’s dig in when we’re not so brain-dead.
Excellent reminders, Mark. My Dad worked out of the house when I was a kid, and I think I just got accustomed to that type of lifestyle. He had his own little cave where he could be as messy as he wanted to be, but somehow he pulled it off.
I’ve been working from home on and off for several years and actually find that I handle it pretty well. I don’t have quite as much structure around my work life as you have, but I’ve done better about setting boundaries recently. Actually right now, I’m winding things down so that I can go have dinner with friends. I’ll pick back up later when I get my evening burst of productivity on. 🙂
Oh, and #2 is brilliant! I finally got that one down a couple of years back. 2.1 would be the timeless advice of ‘don’t go to the grocery store hungry.’ It just never ends well.
Brandon- how fantastic to have a role model- so few of us do, since working from home, aside from farming, has just not been the thing for the last couple of generations. And yes- the food thing is so critical. All it takes is falling prey to one chocolate bar, and your whole afternoon can end up in the trashcan.
Oh Mark,
my mum worked from home – talking about role models – she worked all night, and one could barely see her through the smoke as she got through 60 cigarettes a night. She slept during the day.
Now I’m off, 01am. No cigarettes (never) and today, not even chocolate – see the hailo?
Sleep well,
Monika
Monika- Nice halo. 🙂
Hi Mark, I love the grocery bit 🙂
May I add one?
Outdoor sports. Walking or running … A good way to clear the mind as well as caring for the body and boost the energy. Daylight is ever so important for our health.
Yes, I don’t claim to be looking forward to running in December… 😉
Have fun,
Monika
Oh yes, Monika! Absolutely. I forgot about that one, because I get a lot of exercise just running after these nearly 3-year-old twins. But before they came, yoga was so critical for me.
I’m new here, just getting to know you via your blog and Twitter. In any case, I just had to chime in as I have been self-employed for 8 months, both as a consultant and fledgling entrepreneur. I don’t take naps per se, but 15 minutes of lying on my couch staring up at the ceiling does wonders for my creativity and productivity.
Thanks for these tips. Love your spiritual take on things. All the best.
Katie- woo-hoo for staring on the ceiling! Who knows, you might even find yourself drifting off….
I just started working from home. My biggest benefit so far? I can go to the gym in the morning and work out for an hour which used to be the time of my commute. Woohoo. I am so happy.
Cynthia- it sounds not so huge- but it’s HUGE isn’t it? Congrats!
Congratulations on your milestone, Mark! I’ve been working from home — somewhere between part time and full time — for 20+ years, and your list of insights is the best I’ve ever read. Where were you when I needed you 20 years ago? :-). I’m forwarding this to my grown children who are now both working from home. Thank you for bringing your beautiful and life-affirming approach to business.
Elizabeth- 20+ years! That’s wonderful! And thank you for your kind words- if we can save your kids any little bit of struggle… 🙂
I’m also new on working online..the greatest benefits since I started working online is I have time for my kids to meet their needs.. it is a blessing for me.Congrats to your success!
Congratulations Mark! I’m celebrating your success! :))
Thanks, Stephanie! It’s amazing to find myself here.
Thanks, Stephanie!
I usually take a 10-2o minute nap after lunch breaks before I get to work. This boosts my mind when I work. Btw, is 10-20 minutes even a nap? hehe
If you’re asleep, it’s a nap. 🙂
Thanks a lot for sharing your own golden knowledge. I guess I still have a lot to learn but the most important thing to me right now is getting the right attitude and discipline. My couch is always tempting me, my kitchen always calling me and I have no discipline at all when it comes to setting the appropriate work hours. So very often you find me sleeping and wasting time when I shouldn’t and working till late in order to catch up on wasted time! And most important of all I cannot draw the line between my personal and professional life, but somehow I can make good money working from home 🙂
Glad the lack of discipline is working for you, Daniel. 🙂
I can’t argue with any of these tips: everything you’ve mentioned has come into play since I’ve become a freelance editor/proofreader, and I’ve only been at it a year. Still working on knowing myself, being careful at the grocery store, and having my own space. Will get there soon, though. 🙂 I’m certainly enjoying running my own little business.
One year, Lauren! That rocks! Way to go. All in time… 🙂
I agree with all your tips especially the 6th point.You get to learn so much from other people experiences.Why not learn from their mistakes or success stories.
But one tip I would like to give is that you need a lot of patience to live the self employed life so inculcate patience in yourself.
Thanks, Robert.
A little late to the comment-party on this one, but here I am!
I’ve been working from home (for someone else) for nearly 9 years now, and I’ve learned a lot of these lessons already. But it’s interesting to see how starting my own business (also from home) has shifted the game so I’m having to learn a lot of them over again. With two work-at-home jobs, and a third in the wings, making white space and out-of-the-house time feels impossible. When I’m not working one job, I “should” be working another. But I know deep down that I can’t keep up that pace forever, as evidenced by my sudden head-cold this morning.
Re-learning how to take care of myself while nurturing a biz at home is almost as painful as learning the freaking lessons the first time around. Fortunately, though, I have wonderful folks like you to gently remind me that this is new and worthy of care, too.
So true, Ellie Di! Remember: you, and your business, are your most valuable clients.
I love the photo of the cat falling asleep on the keyboard!
>>>I can get into ruts where literally DAYS go by without leaving the house.
Seriously, this is a real problem…this happens to me constantly, all the time.
>>>My business email doesn
Greg- 🙂
The tips you have enumerated hits me into my heart since I am a work at home person only that I am often so worried about everything else and worst I am just looking at my computer working for a whole month! Reading your article is a refresher so I can think straight again and learn the basic back why I prefer working seeing my family at home.
I love the tips you have here for us Mark…Actually, it is also very inspiring for all people who are self-employed…
Mark, congratulations on your 10 year anniversary. Reading posts like this one really inspire me to keep going to achieve something like this.
It’s tough sometimes to keep going when you can’t see the finish line but this post really puts into perspective where I’d like to be in a couple of years.
I am printing this out and adding it to my wall.
Well done!
Jessica
Good advice. I like hearing from people who’ve been doing this a while 🙂
Being self-employed is tough job. You have to manage yourself,business, your priorities,family and most importantly your TIME to attend to what is the most important thing to do first. The only thing that is good in this type of employment is that you are the boss, your rules and your time. Your tip in getting advice to others is really applicable.
Lots to read about, thank you for all this mark, always learning, many tips, been self employed long time, like i say always something new to learn.
i just love your post, i’m self employed too, and i always put this quote in mind.
“As you take every step on your journey to success, never lose sight of how the actions you take now will ultimately roll up into the
results you see in the future”. 🙂
what a brilliant advice, and you’re such an inspiration! 🙂
Great tips, and good to know that it’s not just me that will be inside for DAYS without feeling an ounce of sunlight on my skin.
What about eating? I find I will either forget to eat, or I will spend all afternoon cooking up a delicious meal. It’s hard to find a balanced between taking care of yourself but not letting it distract you and take up too much time.
First of all I want to say excellent blog! I had a quick question which I’d like to ask if
you don’t mind. I was interested to know how you center yourself and clear your head prior to writing.
I’ve had a hard time clearing my mind in getting my thoughts out there.
I truly do take pleasure in writing but it just seems
like the first 10 to 15 minutes are wasted simply just trying to figure out how
to begin. Any ideas or hints? Kudos!
Here is my page – seo Google (Waylon)
Working online is a great idea! However, such a lifestyle doesn’t suit everyone. To my mind, you have to be creative and able to adapt.