Working From Home vs. Being Unproductive - Moving To An Office!

Hi Allen.

The novelty factor of the office alone will increase your productivity.
You will no doubt miss some of the home comforts (grabbing a snack
when you want to take a quick break etc.) but if you plan to grow
your business, I believe that renting an office is a natural progression.

I actually prefer working from home as I've got 3 kids growing up
around me, but there will be a time where an office is a necessity for
me (even if I don't work there, but my employees/project managers
do)

Kindest regards,
Karl.

EXACTLY! I've started to feel like a recluse!

Karl - Thanks! How are those kids?

Allen

Hello,
whatever you do,do not buy yourself a couch for the office.
I had one and I kept taking a nap.
Once I took the couch out I was able to get more work done.
Lou

A good move I know its more of a mental game then anything. If you do work from home you kind of just need to focus on work for those few hours a day and shut everything else out. But there is just something about waking up in the morning and driving to your office that makes you work compared to being at home perhaps it's what our bodies and minds got used to from school and working before we started this.

Once in a while, I pick up my laptop/notebook.

Head over to the nearest library, turn that into my
office for the next few days to restore productivity
before staying at home again.

Once I realize I'm starting to become unproductive,
I head on back over to the library.

Change is good since entrepreneurs can't get the
mind excited with the same hum-drum things going
on.

Asher

Since moving into an office in the summer of last year my productivity has increased 10 fold and it has had a marked improvement on my business.

Many people feel as if it goes against the whole point of IM - however, it's not the same as a 9 to 5 office and as your own boss you come and go as you please.

Also when your business grows to where you want/need employees (not outsourced staff) an office obviously become a neccessaity.

Riz

I totally know what you mean!

For the past 2 years my grown stepson and his girlfried have lived with us. So, with all the different work schedules someone was always home at most hours of the day.

It was extremely distracting.

Even if they weren't talking to me just all the noises and moving about would interrupt my train of thought.

They moved out in November and my productivity has improved immensely. I find that once my husband goes to work at around 1 PM, and I am all alone, I can get into a "work zone" where I can crank out a ton of work.

But if they hadn't moved out (or if my husband was home all day) I would have to get an office. I guess I just need to be "along" to get work done!

Lee

Hi Allen,

Haven't written you in a while, glad to see you're well. I should come by your forum more often. And I owe you like, 52 articles.

When I lived in Vegas, I rented an efficiency and called it my office. It worked out fantastically because I could work for hours in silence. After a while, I split costs with another entrepreneur which dramatically reduced costs. I'd also check with any local business incubator programs to see if they have a space they'll pro-rate to someone who doesn't really need the incubation feature as much as the space feature, in exchange for a day of donated advice each month.

I love working at home when I live alone. I don't right now, so optimally I take two trips a month to a hotel, sometimes in town, or if there's a really nice special, I'll go out of town, usually to Vegas where my business is still based. I do all my project work in that time, then when I get back home all I'm doing is marketing, traffic generation and placing ads.

I will normally spend the first and last day of the trip relaxing, but it's amazing how much work I get done when I have time to reflect without background noise and family demands upon me.

My main points of advice would be:


- find a place close enough to home that you enjoy the ride/walk, and aren't stuck in traffic but not so close that people will feel free to pop in on you.
- give yourself office hours that you like, and that make sense for your business. you might find that four hours in an office is getting all the work done that 10 hours at home used to take.
- pick a place near a Starbucks, a SCORE office, someplace where you'll meet other entrepreneurs. The camaraderie is awesome, and you never know what kind of connections you'll make. You can wander through on your lunch hour and meet people if you miss the social aspect.

Some cities even have blocks of small offices just for entrepreneurs. I think SCORE.org or the Small Business Administration can help you find them. Good luck, and don't forget to come back and share your experiences with us.

Allen,

Now we come full circle.

From the joy of working at home back to the office.

Well when you wake up one morning and don't feel like going to the office, you can stay home and work. Now you have the best of both worlds.

I'm working on a train right now. Try it you'll like it.

George Wright

I've been wanting to do this for a long time now and just can't seem to find the "time" to leave you know?

Go on one of those trains that have a restaurant also and travel for a day or two.

Awesome - thanks everybody.

Like I said, I am moving in on Monday, so I'll keep ya posted!

Allen

Office is a great !!

When you are in office- You will get the lost zest of a entreprenuer..

You will think big, you will aim big, and you will start to look at big pictures...

For ANY IMer, I suggest that they should get an office- You will not go wrong with it!

Cool - I'm Around 275 @ Hillsborough - where are you at?

LOL - Ross Vegas.

It was always my dream to work at home. Now that I have been doing it for 10 years my dream is now to work in my own little office. Somewhere nice. Where there are people. And access to things. Like the post office. The coffee shop. Any shop, for that matter.

Country living and working at home, for me, was and probably in many ways still is, a dream come true. But I sure am giving serious consideration to setting up my own little office somewhere. Somewhere not home, that is! It gets lonely at home sometimes.

Working from home can be a real pain. When you're trying to get stuff done and the Mrs keeps pestering you, or even just has the TV up too loud.

I'd prefer an office a few minutes away from home so I can get my head into some real work and get things done faster. Afterall it's an investment really, so the cost shouldn't be too much of an issue.

I am moving into my first office ( as a self-employed member of the population) in the next couple of weeks as well.

If you want to grow a business I think it is a great step and one a lot of online marketers are taking. I think being in an office really helps focus my mind and activities as well. I am looking forward to it and will be a massive step forward.

The few people who I know who have done this in this industry and have used the office space properly have seen their business multiply by multiples of ten in some cases. I think it's well worth doing.

This is one step I will seriously be considering when I get to a point where it will become necessary, I am constantly getting harassed by people and my focus shattered constantly that even when I am trying to do something it takes me hours to do anything.

I haven't written an article in days because I keep getting interrupted and likely tonight will be no different.

Having my own office space that I could hire would certainly be a boost to productivity many times over

Whatever you need to do. No 2 people are probably alike

I have worked from home for the past 6 years, kids are at school, though there was a time 1 of them was home for a few years. I was able to do it. Though I tend to focus pretty good when i need too and I dont stick to regular hours, sometimes if need be I can work at night

One way to "try" out an office environment without taking the big step of signing a lease and buying furniture and equipment is by getting into a coworking office.

A coworking office is where you can get desk space in a shared office environment on a weekly or monthly basis. It really isn't just a "desk" as you'll come into contact with kindred souls, since a coworking office is typically inhabited by independent, entrepreneurial people just like you who are looking for a way to get away from distractions and be around like-minded people. Here's more information here -

Office Nomads Coworking

I will be trying a coworking space there (in Seattle) when I move sometime in the Spring, and I can't wait to experience the environment there and be surrounded by like-minded people.

I did the work at home thing, until I was productive for around 1 hour per day

I then decided after the easy access to games, TV, wife, animals, naps, sandwiches, etc., I had to move to an office.

IM isn't about working from home. It is about working on YOUR OWN TERMS. Trust me, when the office is your own, it is even more fulfilling and rewarding and above all else, REAL.

You can get small offices for every affordable prices. Don't get 1200-2000 square feet just to put a desk in the corner and hear your own echo.

I wish you the best and congratulations! You're very corporate America now!

Are you reading my mind?

I was going to suggest the same thing and I think it's a great idea.

Office to rent in Rochdale Road, Serviced Office in Rochdale Road, Manchester & Office Space to Rent or Let in Manchester

Something like the above would be perfect for me, just somewhere that I can go and set up a desk, computer, phone and other essentials and just get on with it without Coronation Street or Home & Away blaring out of the television or family thinking they have some God given right to shout and scream...for just a few hours each day.

I know I am lazy, but where my computer is is also where I relax and that kind of compartmental thinking is very hard to shake, everyone needs a space where they can simply just go to work.

And with the recession and all that, prices are very very low right now

Yes i have been reading this post with great intrest and its annoying me my girlfriend has moved in and i cant kickstart my im career now with the ****en televison on all the time and her wanting attension so im not also in the position as of yet to rent out a office but it do not half get very frustrating,

Im learning every day and want to make things work already reading online on internet marketing, For all who are stuck at home because of funds what would you lot suggest,

andy

Yes, it can def cause you to lean toward the unproductive side & you have to be careful and change things up. Moving to an office is great! But I, like some others, like to sometimes go to coffee shops, restaurants, and there's even an outside coffee area outside of a hotel downtown (which has a starbucks) that's frequented (and frequented with a lot of my old co-workers...poor things).

I also considered thinking about renting an office in an office..instead of my own solo office so that there would already be people there! My old boss used to rent offices in his office...he has an old firehouse building (very unique and cool...still has firepole, old pics, original bucket sink and all!, it's now a law office) so that's also an alternative if you want a cheaper route and built-in "co-workers" so-to-speak.

With great furnitures and a fridge, working in an office can be as un-productive. :p

So be very wary hehe.

I've worked from home and have had an office, I like working in an office the best.

Part of it is the action of getting out there and having to change mindsets to being in a work environment.

One thing I found interesting, was that if my office was located with a bunch of other offices, some how the energy from all the activity helped keep the excitement level going.

Currently I am working from home, and I am looking forward to getting another office.

I never had much luck doing the work from a coffee shop, it doesn't match my personality.

For several years while I was doing catastrophic insurance adjusting I would be working from the tiny desk in a small trailer in the middle of an RV park Or I would be working from an extended stay type motel (usually filled with other biz folks) and by far the environment with other "workers" was the best.

I've started again looking for an office, but I am going to be very picky about the general feel of the offices. if it feels too corporate, filled with a bunch of cubicles of unhappy worker, then I don't care how reasonable the rates are, I'm not going to choose that location.

A nice mix of other like minded business people is very important.

Mark Riddle

Some great ideas in here.

I really like the library idea, I might try that out sometime.

I work from home but I go to the library about once a week and do keyword research, it gets me away from here plus it breaks up my day.

Allen, your instincts are sound. I have three kids I have to get to school in the morning, one special needs, so I have to work at home. When the grandparents were here I was able to rent an office and my productivity skyrocketed.

I dearly miss being able to work at an office. Whenever possible I use the Asher method, although our local libraries are so noisy I now have to use McDonalds. I had a business trip the last four days & got an entire course written just using the plane time.

Allen, I hear your pain

I love working from home. I love being with my 5 kidlets, non-stop. If I had it my way, I'd homeschool again, while working from home and never be away from them. (It helps that they are the most awesome kidlets on the planet..

Having said that... there are times that they forget that I'm actually working and not just surfing the net :-) They (nor my hubby) seem to "get" that once you get into a rhythm and you're suddenly stopped 10 times in a row that getting back on track is just about impossible.

So, I probably do spend more hours at my computer at home than I would at a "real office".

It's a trade-off I'll take though. I see my children whenever I want, I don't have to change out of my jammies if I so choose and I don't have to get ready to leave the house... wooohoo

Keep us posted on how it works out for you

Warmly,

Brand

Hmmm let me see.

The Pros: Wake up and stay in PJ's, grab a coffee, watch the morning news, whilst checking my emails. Go for my morning walk, have a leisurely shower, whilst planning my strategy for the day. Hit the laptop and get in 'the zone.'

Cons: Getting 'cabin fever'. Time to head on down to the coffee shop at the beach for a change of pace.

Allen, I agree you will be more disciplined in your own office, but are you sure you won't miss avoiding the traffic, the relaxing atmosphere, and your friendly pets!

A great idea.
Interruptions - AARRGGHH!! {:-((

Why does everyone think because you're working away on your own at home you must be in dire need of their company throughout the day?

I know - maybe I should just not answer the door or phone, but I don't have the back-bone :-)

Good luck with your move.

Pete.

I had exactly the same problem - I run a small property management business and i used to work from home! It used to work as follows:

Tea
work
TV
Work
AH stuff it... TV

Now that i have an office things defo work better

I too agree with you. I also worked from home for very long time and felt exactly like you. So i set up a small office for me 2 years back.

Wish you all the Best

I agree, that is true about the emotion. I think renting an office for a team to be lead by a team leader is good choice. I myself come to the office in the morning and go out after 1 hour. Appearing in the office make me feel good.

Yes I agree about office is good for productivity especialy if you have distractions at home.

But I will rather go for home or something near home, so you don't have to travel alot and waste your time in traffic. Best would be if you can spare a room or two (depends on staff) in your house and separate from all as much as possible during your working times, or find some office near your home.

Also you have to be vary organized and self disciplined if you are working from home.

Nemanja

Getting out of the house and into an office was the best move I ever made.

This is a great topic. I recently started as an Imer and have been doing it part time at home after the day job. I have noticed that some days my attention is fully dedicated to my business and other days I can hardly look at the computer. Having an office of my own might help focus. This is some real food for thought if I am really going to make this happen.

Maybe even just going to the library or the coffee shop for a couple hours would make a difference to start.

Thanks everyone for the posts and getting me thinking!

Get a private office outside of your home will allow you to have a silent privacy and improve your productivity at the same time multiplier your earning...

I would never consider renting an office outside. Working from home is one of the greatest benefits to me of working for myself. To me, unless you have a big operation and staff that works with you in the office, it's just pissing money away. But then, I don't have a problem being productive at home, so it may be what you need. Good luck with it.

having your own office sure does help a lot, your alone, and your focused =]

If you think you are going to be more productive in an office environment, then go for it.

Some people are more comfortable working at home and some are not. It really depends on your personality.

Sure you can be more disciplined and what not, but the best part for me on working from home, is well, working from home! I'm able to keep myself not to stir-crazy, but to each of their own, whatever you think will be the best for YOU in the long run

In Los Angeles theres a company called Blank Spaces that rents out office space by the hour, day, week or month. I have only checked it out for a few minutes but once my business starts to take off I feel that being at home won't cut it. There's just too much going on with pets and family

I have a 300 sq.ft. office at a walkable distance from my home. Moved there 6 months back. I go there 4-5 times per day and each session will be for a maximum of 1 hr. My income has gone up since I have moved there... yet I feel close to my home. An office room inside the home is not a good idea because always someone would come in to disturb you. I have my own big table and book shelf in my office and no one would misplace things there, which gives me a sense of security and also I feel I am able to take bolder decisions in my business since I moved there.

And I forgot to add...

I do only the execution part in the office.

I think of ideas and things to do when I am relaxing at home. I just can't think of new ideas in the office. I usually take books from the book shelf and bring it home when I feel like reading.

I have a mac mini at home where I do unproductive but important tasks like learning through info products and hanging out in forums.

My whole reason for starting my IM business was to get out of the office.

I love being able to go for a swim etc.

Maybe if you are working that hard that you need an office you may need to audit your business style.

Quentin

The consensus I see from the majority of warriors is that the home may be a little too "homely" with all its creature comforts, and the possibility of distraction from loved ones, and it seems like having an office to go to can increase your productivity because it allows you to tune into a "work" mindset where you're mentally attuned to being focused and productive.

I can see why this is the case. There is a very clear delineation between work and leisure when you have an office, whereas when you work at home the lines are blurred, and doing both at the same time (and place) can hurt your productivity.

yup, definitely boosts productivity!

Its like working in a cafe for me or a hotel room. A Change of scenery is always great to inspire me.

I also think too many are thinking "office job" and the daily grind, it won't really be such as you are the boss anyway, it is simply a space away from home where you can get away from home comforts and get things done.

It is really no different from a home office, it is just that you don't have so many distractions running around everywhere lol

And with office space so cheap right now you could take out a lease and sublet to others so effectively you get it for free lol