by BlondieWrites on March 8, 2010
Work at Home: Don’t Get Overwhelmed
When working on a big project, it’s easy to look at it and think “there’s just no way I can do that”. But a big project becomes a lot more manageable if you break it down into smaller pieces - you just have to know how to divide it up.
Before you dive into breaking up your project and making a plan, you need to figure out exactly what needs to be done and when the project needs to be done by. This may be very easy if your client has a clear idea of what they want and a solid deadline, but they may be more flexible and want you to fill in the blanks, it which case this might take a bit longer.
Either during or after figuring out your full goal and deadline, break the job down into exactly what needs to be done. Break the job into small pieces. Don’t worry about the order yet, just make sure you have a list of all the tasks involved. Also make sure to put next to each tasks who needs to be involved and what tools and equipment will be needed to complete it.
The next step is to organize all the pieces into an order. You can do this based on several criteria including:
* Client needs. No matter what your preferences, to run a successful business, you need to put the client first. If your client needs certain parts by certain dates, then that’s going to be the first determinant of your schedule. Once that is decided, you can fill in the other blanks from there.
* Chronological considerations. While certain parts of projects can be done in any order, some activities require other portions to be done before they can be finished, or sometimes even started. Once you are done organizing things by firm deadlines, they can be ordered in this way.
* Availability of people and tools. Generally, you’re going to need certain employees, outside contractors, specific equipment, and other items. These are likely going to be different for each part of the project. Organize your timeline based on who is needed for each part. For example, if you need a certain contractor for several steps, it’s easier to do those steps one after the other instead of spreading them apart. And if a person is working on a part of the project that will take up all their time, they obviously can’t work on another project at the same time.
Once you have a general order set up, you’re ready to set up a more specific timeline with dates that specific parts of the project need to be done. Unlike the previous step, this one may be more difficult (and you may have to redo the last step). For your timeline, you need to take into account not only when things are due, but when people and equipment you need will be available.
Once you have your final plan, you’re ready to get started. But, don’t let you’re planning be done there. We all know that nothing goes exactly as planned. Re-evaluate your plan every so often to make sure it still lines up with client expectations and how things are going. That way there won’t be any surprises later on.
Popularity: 1% [?]
by BlondieWrites on November 7, 2009
Working at home is one of the fastest growing trends in careers today. However, many people jump on the freelancer bandwagon without considering all of the drawbacks to working at home. While some people are naturally inclined to work at home, others find the transition more difficult to make. There are many benefits to working at home, but the drawbacks need to be considered before you make the choice.
The first drawback to looking for a work at home career is that your current career may not easily transfer to a work at home situation. If you work in the medical field or are a police officer, being a freelancer might not be an easy transition unless you are willing to change careers entirely. Sales and administrative positions transfer well, as do creative jobs like design and writing. For those in jobs that can’t make the work at home switch, you’ll have to think carefully about what you want to do when start working at home and start investigating that field.
Cost is another important factor in deciding if working at home is right for you. Although many mothers start working at home to save on childcare, there are added costs to being a freelancer. If you need health insurance, it will have to come out of your pocket instead of being paid by your employers. There are also many taxes that you will have to pay. Your record keeping must be excellent in order to keep track of your income and expenses, and to fill out your income tax return at the end of the year.
Working at home with children is not always as easy as it seems. If you have young children that aren’t in school yet, it may be difficult to work when they are awake. This can mean lots of busy naptimes and late nights to get your projects done when they are sleeping. Family members can help take care of your children from time to time, but the responsibility of both your children and your job will be firmly in your hands. With older children, it is sometimes easier to work from home. But you will still have to start and maintain a fairly balanced schedule in order to get everything done.
Freelancers have to be very self-motivated and disciplined in order to get their work done on time and correctly. If you are the type of person that is motivated by outside factors (such as a supervisor), then working at home may not be your cup of tea. When you work at home, there is no one there to look over your shoulder and make sure that you are still working. Distractions like the television, Internet and housework can be hindrances to your work at home success.
Isolation is another problem for freelancers. Working at home alone can get frustrating and lonely. Make sure you are comfortable with spending time alone, and that you take steps to combat isolation. If you are especially prone to being depressed, then the isolation that comes with working at home may make you feel withdrawn and sad. Taking steps to combat loneliness is an important part of any freelancer’s success.
After considering these factors, you may decide that working at home is not right for you. However, thousands of people deal with these drawbacks and still have successful work at home careers. These reasons should not stop you from becoming a freelancer if that is really what you want to do. Just make sure you understand the realities of the work at home lifestyle before you commit to it.
Popularity: 2% [?]
by BlondieWrites on June 24, 2008
There are obvious pros to running a home business and working at home, such as not having a boss to micromanage you and not having to commute through that morning traffic. But, there are quite a few other advantages that are not quite as apparent. There are many expenses that a person working outside the home has to deal with, including many that you might not pay much attention to.
When working outside the home there are costs associated with buying and maintaining career clothing. These costs include of course the purchase of a wide variety of work clothes, which often have to be updated every year. But there are also the costs of alterations, dry cleaning and the time and transportation costs associated with those. Over the course of a year it can add up to quite an expense.
Another major expense for some, of course, is childcare. Even an inexpensive childcare facility can be $500 or more a month for childcare for only one child. Imagine the cost of high-quality care for one year. People with multiple children are often simply unable to afford this expense and opt to start a home business to avoid it.
The commute to work, even if it’s a relatively short distance away, is still costing you money. As fuel costs continue to rise, along with automobile repair expenses, the commute to work is getting more expensive by the month. The wear and tear on the car is an expense that often costs just as much as the fuel when you tally the oil change and repair costs. To be able to do your work from home is an amazing savings on commuting expenses, leaving you with a higher profit for your time.
Many people also benefit from the home office deduction, which is a nice savings on income taxes. The deduction allows for the expense of the portion of your home that is dedicated to the business, and makes the process of earning a profit even easier. With more money staying in your pocket, you can make a better profit with your business. Add to that the money you save from childcare costs, commuting costs and clothing, the amount of money you bring in with your home business counts for more than the amount you would make working for someone else. Even if you make only half what you did in an office job, much more of the money is staying with you, making your home business income higher than the income you had before.
Popularity: 19% [?]
by BlondieWrites on June 23, 2008
Leaving a job where someone else takes care of all of the business expenses can be a daunting task. But for those who seize the monetary advantages working at home can give them, working at home is actually quite profitable, and even more so than working for someone else. Working at home offers a few tax advantages that are not offered to anyone else. For those who work at home as employees of someone else, there is the home office deduction for tax purposes. This deduction allows the percentage of the home, apartment, etc., including utilities and other expenses, to be deducted from their taxes. And for those who are working for themselves from home, there is this lucrative deduction as well as many more ways to take advantage of business deductions.
Independent contractors, including many people who work from home, can take advantage of per diem deductions. This allocates a specific amount of money to be written off from income each day. The amount may vary according to the region, but it is often enough to pay for many daily expenses. Taking this amount off of income and combining it with home office deductions and deductions for telephone, internet, and other business-related expenses often means that those working from home pay no taxes at all.
There are also deductions available for all of the office equipment used, even if it was previously purchased for personal use. Deductions are also available for any new equipment purchased and any services that must be outsourced.
In addition to the tax advantages, there are also many business expenses that those working from home no longer have to pay for. These include large expenses such as child care, transportation, and business clothing costs. It also includes the daily assault of other, smaller expenses, such as gifts for co-workers, dry cleaning, lunches out, etc. These expanses are part of the cost of working from someone else, and most can be greatly reduced, if not entirely eliminated, by working at home. Even if the income from home is less, the amount earned may end up being much more because of these savings.
With smaller expenses in many of these areas, combined with the many tax advantages offered to those who work at home, it is possible for tens of thousands of people a year to begin working from home. So many people now work from home that the stigma of not “really working” is gone, and more companies are outsourcing specific jobs to workers working from home. And websites and software facilitate employee accountability and billing. There are also many more ways to be paid online for the work done. All of this means more work going around, and employers are willing opt pay more to get good home workers. This creates more opportunities for profitable work, and fewer costs. All of these together make an exciting environment in which anyone working at home begins with advantages to assist them make a profit and continue working at home in pajamas.
Popularity: 8% [?]
by BlondieWrites on June 19, 2008
Working at home is one of the fastest growing trends in careers today. However, many people jump on the Wahm bandwagon without considering all of the drawbacks to working at home. While some people are naturally inclined to work at home, others find the transition more difficult to make. There are many benefits to working at home, but the drawbacks need to be considered before you make the choice.
The first drawback to looking for a work at home career is that your current career may not easily transfer to a work at home situation. If you work in the medical field or are a police officer, being a Wahm might not be an easy transition unless you are willing to change careers entirely. Sales and administrative positions transfer well, as do creative jobs like design and writing. For those in jobs that can’t make the work at home switch, you’ll have to think carefully about what you want to do when start working at home and start investigating that field.
Cost is another important factor in deciding if working at home is right for you. Although many mothers start working at home to save on childcare, there are added costs to being a Wahm. If you need health insurance, it will have to come out of your pocket instead of being paid by your employers. There are also many taxes that you will have to pay. Your record keeping must be excellent in order to keep track of your income and expenses, and to fill out your income tax return at the end of the year.
Working at home with children is not always as easy as it seems. If you have young children that aren’t in school yet, it may be difficult to work when they are awake. This can mean lots of busy naptimes and late nights to get your projects done when they are sleeping. Family members can help take care of your children from time to time, but the responsibility of both your children and your job will be firmly in your hands. With older children, it is sometimes easier to work from home. But you will still have to start and maintain a fairly balanced schedule in order to get everything done.
Wahms have to be very self-motivated and disciplined in order to get their work done on time and correctly. If you are the type of person that is motivated by outside factors (such as a supervisor), then working at home may not be your cup of tea. When you work at home, there is no one there to look over your shoulder and make sure that you are still working. Distractions like the television, Internet and housework can be hindrances to your work at home success.
Isolation is another problem for Wahms. Working at home alone can get frustrating and lonely. Make sure you are comfortable with spending time alone, and that you take steps to combat isolation. If you are especially prone to being depressed, then the isolation that comes with working at home may make you feel withdrawn and sad. Taking steps to combat loneliness is an important part of any Wahm’s success.
After considering these factors, you may decide that working at home is not right for you. However, thousands of people deal with these drawbacks and still have successful work at home careers. These reasons should not stop you from becoming a Wahm if that is really what you want to do. Just make sure you understand the realities of the work at home lifestyle before you commit to it.
Popularity: 3% [?]
