Yes, I W-O-R-K from Home.
March 9, 2010 by Mr Mark
Maybe some of you can relate. I w-o-r-k from my home. I have a room in my home that is filled with desks, computers, and an iPod. Shelves against the wall filled with books, software and magazines. Filing cabinets filled with records, notes and important files.
It is here that I command my world from. Where a majority of my work is started or completed. I work from here much like many people work from an o-f-f-i-c-e.
It happens that I also live in a 24-hour town that is famous for its entertainment. This seems to draw a lot of people here. Many will reroute their travel plans to pass through this little Mecca of sin and debauchery.
Why am I saying all this? Because I thought we lived in the enlightened era of the modern society until the two paths collided today.
A family friend had said they were passing thought this week and wondered if we could get together? Not a problem. They changed their travel plans, but were unsure when exactly they would be in town. Monday, maybe Tuesday, or could be as late as Thursday.
Today they decided to show up. And wondered if we could get together? Today.
I explained that would be a tough thing to arrange but not impossible. Than they hit me with the guilt trip about how I am always saying I work from home and can set my own hours. So why can’t I just set my own hours and meet them on their schedule? After all I work from home, right?
I can and I do. In fact I had my day set yesterday when a client called with an emergency. The fact that I work for myself; I could rearranged my week to help him with that emergency. And that meant working today. That’s my job. I work for a living.
For whatever reason, I thought we were over trying to explain to people that there are people who really do w-o-r-k from home. Just like you work from an o-f-f-i-c-e. That working from home does not mean unemployed and watching Oprah, waiting for an invite to go hit the slots again this afternoon.
I know that if I worked in a regular job, in a regular office, he would understand and find something to do until 5pm. Then ask that I join him for whatever he wanted to do. But since I am home office’d, that my day is his day to mess with. It isn’t. I love my friends, but I also like that money people pay me to work.
So just because your friend or family member says they are working from home, don’t think it means playtime. Please think of it as their office or a place of business and respect their schedules, no matter how flaky their hours may be. We respect yours… Sort of.
Mark Anthony
Internet Marketing Coach
