Get Involved with Your Children

[Audrey]

Are your kids in sports? Are they in band? Be there for your kids. One of the reasons you work at home is because you want the flexibility to be with your children during those times that are important to your kids. So, when they have a performance, stop what you're doing and go. When they have a field trip, take the few hours and if your child wants you to go, then go. Wake up a bit earlier that day, or go to bed a bit later so you can get your work done. Thoughts?

[Marlo Boux]

Audrey - I agree. I found it hard for about the first 9 months in business to not get carried away...afterall my business was like a baby to me too. But then I remembered why I wanted to work from home - to be there for my family. I do a much better job balancing things now and schedule my work around my family's schedule instead of the other way around.

I learned that the world didn't stop turning if I had more work left over for the following day ;)

[Audrey]

I think customers are usually pretty understanding if you are clear when they can expect to hear from you. If at 9am you tell them you are not available until 1pm, that almost always works.

What doesn't work is telling a customer I'm only avaialable from 1pm to 3pm and from 6pm to 7pm. Customers want more availability than that.