Anyone who works from home deserves congratulations. That’s doubly true for entrepreneurs working to get novel business ideas off the ground. Being your own boss is tough under any circumstances, but finding internal motivation is especially difficult when you’re working with previously unvalidated ideas.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at six strategies work-at-home entrepreneurs can implement to boost their productivity and drive results on (or ahead of) schedule. Are you doing any of these things already?
1. Set a regular schedule and stick to it
No matter where you work, you won’t do your best work without a strict definition of, you know, work. The best way to delineate your working life from your non-working life is to set a strict, regular work schedule and stick to it, absent extenuating circumstances such as family emergencies. This doesn’t need to be a 9-to-5 schedule, mind you: whatever works with your natural rhythms and personal obligations is best.
2. Pursue opportunities that get you out of the house
Look for work-at-home opportunities that give you the chance to get out of the house. Fundraising distribution is a great example — you can sell fundraising products to organizations looking to raise money from anywhere, not just the comfort of your home office (though you can certainly do that as well). Such hybrid opportunities can be quite lucrative — professionals at ABC Fundraising say fundraising distributors can earn anywhere from $500 to $5,000 or more per month.
3. Transform an under-utilized space into a dedicated home office
If you don’t already have one, set up a dedicated home office space complete with a desk, filing system, electronic equipment, and anything else you need to be successful. Use your space exclusively for work and you might qualify for the home office tax deduction, a nice tax break for work-at-homers.
4. Implement a scalable filing and organising system
Two words: filing cabinet. Ditch the receipt-filled shoebox and folder-filled crates for a sensible, systematized organizational apparatus. Do the same for your digital life, as well: a $100-a-year cloud storage system is far better than a warren of thumb drives.
5. Find at least one creative outlet that’s not all about optimization
All work and no play makes…well, you know the rest. Find at least one non-professional creative pursuit that lets you blow off steam after hours. With encouragement, it might just turn into a lucrative side project.
6. Upgrade your home office furnishings
Make your home office as comfortable and inviting as possible without going full leisure cave. Look for ergonomic office furniture like standing desks and support keyboards; don’t be afraid to call that disused couch back into service for emergency naps, either.
Your best self is calling
Wouldn’t it be nice to know for sure that you’re setting out on the right path — one that, fate willing, takes your career to hitherto undreamed-of heights?
No one has a crystal ball, or we’d all be millionaires. But simply by implementing these time-worn entrepreneurial strategies and seeing your goals through to completion, you’ll find yourself head and shoulders above your erstwhile competitors. Who knows? Years from now, perhaps you’ll be the one to figure out how to reach back through time and tell your younger self that it all really will work out in the end.
