Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I try to stick to 9 to 5. Course I`m home so if I`m on lunch watching soaps or doing laundry, I take the call. I also get irritated when I get calls after 5 but some of my clients are on the West Coast, so I`ve got to keep that in mind.

Definitely set office hours and keep them. Or respond within 24 hours or soon after to inquiries at the very least.



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Kristen Fischer, Copywriter/Editor/Author
Creatively Self-Employed

It didn`t take me long to learn that my business could very easily run my life if I didn`t set some limits for myself.  I set apart a certain amount of time each day to work IN my business (i.e., taking care of clients) and a certain amount to work ON my business (i.e., marketing, bookkeeping, etc.).  I also schedule my day in 15 minute blocks.  It really helps me to stay focused and get more done in less time.

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Rosanna Tussey
Owner
New Mexico Candle Co.
http://www.nmcandleco.com

I do have "office hours" but I never stick to them.  There is always something that "needs" to be done.
My hat is off to you Jennifer.  No matter how much I say I`m going to stick to my hours something almost always throws a wrench in that plan.

I agree with Jennifer. I tell you, you gotta have balance! Your house must not be so neglected dirty clothes become a mountain range. You must not have been gone out of your family`s presence so long you don`t recognize the kids anymore (and who is that man who keeps drifting in and out of here?!). Of course in the wee single number days of your business` birth, it seems you`re always "in the office". I used to be able to just walk away, but since my family`s move, my "office" is temporarily in the same place I sleep. See to your health: get up from the computer every 30 minutes or so; do desk stretches; take a real break for lunch; go outside in nature at least once a day for natural light and exercise; eat on schedule; AND SHUT THE COMPUTER DOWN AT 7:00p.m. ...`Bye y`all. It`s 6:35. Peace out.

I totally agree with Jennifer.  It is still important to separate business form home life even if you work from home.  Work/Life balance has always been important to me, more so than the money.  The reality is that work creeps into the home life and home life creeps into work.  If either is out of balance, then they both suffer.


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Jason Hite, President
SoCal Voice Solutions
Toll-Free Voice Fax Hosted PBX Services

The work never seems to stop. But there has to come a time when you need to walk away from it all to get other things done. Set a schedule. I have hours for my home based business. 8am -5pm, this is of course when I make myself available for my clients to reach me whether it is via phone or email. As far as getting down to work. If there is something pressing that I need to get to a client asap, I work a little longer. But if I have to run my son to soccer at 3 in the afternoon I do this without hesitation, however I am still available to my clients shold they need me at this time. So it is really entirely up to you. Are you gonna stay and work or walk away for the night. Having the office at home can pose these problems. I guess it really depends on the person.

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I don`t keep office hours. I am a night owl so even though I`m up around 7am I don`t do anything (without being crabby) until after 10am except drink coffee, check email and check out the forums that I`m a member of. I start revving up about 11am but I`m not at peak performance until about 2pm, then it`s work time until at at least 10pm. It`s not uncommon for my clients to get emails from me at midnight. That`s the beauty of working at home!

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Rebecka Melson | Virtual Business Services | www.vbsofok.com