"Required reading" for today's smart writer.

"Required reading" for today's smart writer.
Information & inspiration to hone your craft and increase your cash...Since 2009

Monday, October 31, 2011

5 Tips to Make the Most of Working From Home


October marks National Home Based Business Week. A yearly celebration to honor, educate and advance entrepreneurs who have traded cubicle lifestyles for “castle“comforts, and greater flexibility. Some freelancers have strategically chosen this entrepreneurial path, while others have been immersed in the waters because of corporate downsizing, tough times, and the relative ease of conducting business online.

Whether by choice or chance, knowing how to deal with day-to-day challenges and learning to work smarter, not harder can be the key to longevity and success.
With this in mind, here are some tips to make the most of your experience, based upon my own.

FIVE WAYS TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME AND EFFORTS

1. Establish a daily routine.
Though it may be tempting to play video games, tune into soaps, or sleep in late, know that idlely sitting on your bottom will have an adverse affect on your bottom line. Just because you have no one to watch over you doesn’t mean you’re not accountable. Consider your clients, editors, advertisers and family. Establishing a routine helps to provide structure and greater efficiency.

2. Devise goals.
Goals serve like a road map to help to navigate your direction. Where would you like to be published? How much money do you want to earn this week? This month? This quarter? How will you target new clients and find new projects? Go even further and write your goals down. Studies show that writing goals down increases the likelihood of achieving them.

3. Make your space an accommodating place.
Did you know that where you work is just as important as how you work? Whether you toil from a corner in your basement, or a bedroom converted into a beautiful office, make sure that it suits your personality, work style and line of work. Ideally, it should be adorned in colors that inspire you, be free from clutter, and equipped with the latest technology and tools you need to succeed. Add a few posters of expensive places you’d like to travel, to help keep your eye on the prize and to keep your mojo working.

4. Be savvy about social media.
There’s no doubt about it: social media is crucial to connecting with others to build your platform, stay “in the know,” and stay in the black. But too much time spent enjoying this popular past-time can prove counterproductive. Whether you indulge daily or weekly, impose a time limit and stick to it.

5. Choose your clients carefully.
Doing so can help to avoid potential headaches, wasted hours, burned bridges, and lost income. Money aside--take the time to ask the right questions. To discern whether there is a similar work ethic, compatible agendas, and meeting of the minds. Increase the odds for a winning, long term relationship by getting all work conditions in writing.

Follow these five tips to enjoy greater success and less stress on the home front.


Any tips to add to the list?

Image Stock Photo

10 comments:

  1. Hello Jennifer,

    Thanks for your post,
    As I just read in your About Me, I saw that you also appeared at - Daily Blog Tips - and I must have read posts from you there a few times before and also on other places in the 'Blogosphere'...,

    'Talking about Blogging,'

    The great thing about Blogging is that you will alway's have a Daily Routine, Especially when you actually get - Comments - on Blogposts that you can comment on, or that can Inspire to even write Crispy Fresh New Blogposts.

    Also to keep putting in content on the blog(s) is also somewhat of a Goal in itself.

    (And I don't mind when readers click
    on links to buy Laptop Computers via my
    Affiliate Links :))


    Since I don't alway's work on the same location with the same blogs bookmarked I noticed that I didn't have your blog bookmarked on this computer yet, (so now I have.)

    'For what Accommodating Places
    and Writers Workspaces is concerned,'


    That actually is one of my favorite topics and one of my Most Popular Posts on my
    - Writer's Lifestyle - Blog:

    http://hpshappywriting2.blogspot.com/2010/08/writers-workspaces-that-inspire.html

    For what Social Media is concerned, I know that it probably can be great for getting traffic only I currently don't do really do that although on my - Home Business Lifstyle - Blog I do have all kinds of Icons for things like that. (Btw. thanks for reminding me I might also put those on my - Writer's Lifestyle - Blog)

    For what Choosing Clients is concerned, currently I don't do any 'Trading Hours for Dollars' kind of (Freelance) Writing.
    Currently I mainly do Blogging and Affiliate Marketing and write posts about it on my - Home Business Lifestyle - Blog

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  2. Ha! I love it Jenn. My space is precisely 3 1/2 x 5 feet behind the piano. But I love it. I'm rarely bothered back there. :)

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  3. Carol,

    How lovely! May peace continue to grace your space. :-) Good to hear from you.

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  4. These elements are indeed crucial for success! Organization and discipline are my top picks for the self employed. Easier said than done sometimes, but they pay off in the long run. Good post. :)

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  5. Jennifer Brown BanksNovember 2, 2011 at 6:15 PM

    Hi Karen,

    So true! Thanks for your thoughts.

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  6. Great suggestions Jen. Number 5 is critical. I never begin a project until I have a signed contract and letter of agreement and half down.
    Thanks for sharing these insightful tips.

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  7. Jennifer Brown BanksNovember 5, 2011 at 10:33 AM

    Thanks, Andrea. For me, experience is a great teacher!

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  8. Hi HP Van Duuren,

    Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts here, and for the book mark. Yep, I seem to remember you from Daily Blog Tips. :-)

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  9. Absolutely love this post Jennifer! I am great with goal setting, but where I lack is in a consistent schedule, which is what I'm going to be focusing on the entire month of January until I get it right. One habit I'm not bringing into my writing career from my web design career is taking every job I can get my hands on--I'm going to be very selective with my client base so I don't string myself too thin. Happy 2012!

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  10. Jennifer Brown BanksJanuary 5, 2012 at 7:28 PM

    Krissy,

    Sounds like you have a good plan in place. Keep me posted. :-) Thanks for sharing.

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