Residual Victory Blog

Working at Home versus Working for a Boss is a no brainer.  At least for me.  But, everyone is different and everyone has different working styles and preferences.  When you work at home either you are your own boss, or your customers are your boss.  There will always be somebody who is a boss.  If it’s not your boss or you or your customers, then it’s your kids - and I’m sure the dogs are standing in line.  If you are debating whether to work at home for yourself or work for a boss, there are a few factors to consider. 

1.  Do you want to work at home?  Seriously, if you don’t want to work at home it will be even harder to motivate yourself.  If you hate your house, or perhaps you’re sick of looking at the neon orange shag rug, and you enjoy the camaraderie of the workplace more than being at home, postpone your decision.  It’s easier to keep a job and quit later than it is to quit your job and ask for it back.  Get rid of the rug first.

2.  Noise.  Is your home noisy?  Is your workplace you share with your boss noisy?  Does noise bother you?  It bothers some people.  Maybe the kids are gone and home will be too quiet for you.  Maybe the kids are home and the home will be too noisy for you.  It depends on what environments you are used to working in and what type of work you do. 

3.  Kids.  See number two above.  Kids are and should be the biggest factor in deciding whether to work at home.  If you want to work at home to be with your children, then that factor weighs far greater than any other factor.  If you can’t get any work done because the kids are around, you may decide to work outside the home or arrange for childcare for the children while you are working at home.  Kids also destroy things.  I have six of them.  Trust me.  I know.  They spill things.  They don’t mean to.  They will probably spill something on that 500-page $100,000 proposal you were almost finished with.  If you decide to take the risk and work at home, get your ground rules in first and fast and stick to them.  I never did and I have the stickiest computer around.

4.  Flexibility.  How much flexibility does your boss give you?  How much do you need?  Can you take off for school plays, sports, medical appointments, or when a child is sick?  Can you take off when you are sick?  Can you be late?  Can you leave early?  If you are single and healthy and have relatively few demands, working for a boss can give you a great deal of security.

The important thing is to be happy with your decision.  Work is a large part of everyone’s life.  Happiness equals productivity.  If you’re happy, your boss is happy, your kids are happy, and the dogs probably are too.