What stands between you and your pajamas?

What stands between you and your pajamas?  

3 questions to answer before working from home

Working from home is an amazing opportunity for many people today. There are many things to consider before making the leap into your PJ or sweats for your work day. As you prepare for your transition to working from home; ask yourself these critical questions, first.

What is your work style?

What home attributes does it take to make “work from home” work for you?

What do your in-home companions need to know?

How will you build the self discipline to thrive, working from home?

These are critical questions. There isn’t one right answer. The important thing is to think them through and have a plan.

Now, let’s break it down.

What is your workstyle?

I love being around other people so working from home while convenient for my family isn’t always rewarding from a social perspective. To avert potential burn out in this area, I often call others during the work day to check in. It could be a colleague or someone across the country. Recreating this water cooler type of social input helps me feel more connected to the world and gives me the 5 minute break I need to regroup and get back on task.

What home attributes does it take to make “work at home” work for you?  (Aka: Do you need a larger coffee pot?)

Working from home, for yourself or a larger company, requires some logistical thought. While working from bed was necessary for part of my pregnancy it wasn’t comfortable as my body became less encumbered. Having a suitable work space is critical since I spend many hours a day there. Having an ergonomically correct office chair rather than borrowing one from the dining room allows me to work more comfortably and productively. Also, since there aren’t too many door to door IT professionals (hmmm maybe a business idea) I needed know how to trouble shoot my technology before getting started. There isn’t anything I can think of that is more frustrating or unproductive than sitting on hold with the IT folks as I watch my hours and productivity slip through my fingers.

What do your in-home companions need to know?

Managing distractions is important no matter where you work. If you have children, roommates or even pets you will want to plan accordingly for your workspace. When I first started working from home my Chihuahua, Blue, thought me being home during the day was his invitation to play. This was frustrating and sometimes painful as he nipped at my stocking feet while I had a sales prospect on the line. Hearing him whining from the other side of the door was painful in other ways. Creating time and space to mitigate these distractions was critical as working from home became my full time gig. Training dogs, children and even roommates to respect your work space is a challenge but definitely worth the effort.

Helping individuals successfully create careers that fit their family and lifestyle is what I do. If you need help finding the answers to how working from home could work for you, I can help. Give me a call at 406-581-5525 for your free 30 minute consultation. 

Yes, We Can!

My two year old son has recently become a big fan of Bob the Builder. He likes to play pretend and I would randomly hear him announce as he was playing with his toys;

Digger: “Hi, can we build it?”

Bulldozer: “Yes, We Can.”

Occasionally, he would be trying to get me to do something with him and he would announce with enthusiasm – usually contagious – “Yes, we can!”

Keaton: “Can we make hot chocolate, Mom? Yes we can! Let’s go.”

Me: “Uh, sure.” I may be a push over but why would I say no to that?

I actually didn’t know where this was coming from since watching Bob is part of his nightly Daddy Date and I had never seen an episode.

I am grateful for his encouragement and enthusiasm – whether his intention was directed at me or getting a chocolate fix. My sons can do attitude was something I needed to hear. Neck-deep in starting my business, “Yes, we can,” was sometimes the only thing that kept my head above water.

Many times, the next item on the never ending to-do list is an item I am not actually sure I can do. I want to panic. I want to hire the job done. I want to skip it. I want to phone a friend. That is when I have learned, I have to take a breath and push through the fear. My two companions, YouTube and Google, are always there to offer direction so I am truly never alone to figure it out on my own. So far – in every case – I have been able to get the job done.

Being an entrepreneur we are always being called on to wear so many hats, it almost always overwhelming. Today I will choose take a lesson from my two year old business coach and believe, “Yes, we can.”

I am coming in!

I am coming in!

I love how my two-year-old Keaton just “knows” he is welcome EVERYWHERE: take my lap for instance. As he is crawling over the arm of the chair -- oblivious of the puppy, my newborn, and the laptop - he simply announces, “Mommy, I am coming in.”

“Uh, excuse me,” is the most we ever get, as he settles himself on top of the pile.

I have grown to think this attitude could be useful in business, too.

I am all too often “shy” – in quotes because I think shyness is just fear with makeup on – and don’t make the connections I need because I am just sure that they won’t work, people aren't going to like me, I might have something in my teeth;  do I smell like spoiled milk?; is there spit up, drool, food or anything else on my shirt, jacket or pants? Etc, etc, etc.

When I was the director of sales for a start-up business a few years ago, 90 percent of my job was face-to-face or telephone sales: the dreaded cold calling. Before each in-person meeting I would find myself face-to-face with my steering wheel, trying to convince myself to just GO IN.

My self-talk went something like this:

Me: I am here. Time to go in. I am nervous.

Steering Wheel: Silent

Me: What if they don’t like it?

Steering Wheel: Silent

Me: What if they don’t like me?

Steering Wheel: Silent

Me: Why? Sales are going well; and there are no bears, snakes, or sharks in there.

Steering Wheel: Obviously!

Me: There is truly nothing legitimate to be afraid of -- at least, I have never heard of sales person being shot by a buyer. Okay, I am just going to go in and “Get ‘er done!” as my husband likes to say.

Then I would jump out of my car as quickly as I could before I had time to over-think it anymore.

With my latest business, I am trying my best to just jump in. I feel passionate about coaching and my clients. I know to my core I am doing what I am meant to be doing; so I am trying to force fear out of the equation. I maintain the perspective that my job is to do the next right thing and have faith that results will follow.  

I can sometimes feel like an intrusion on another person’s day, until I remember that running into somebody and hearing about their life is the highlight of mine. Instead, I choose to believe that most people are happier to have seen and interacted with me. Like my son, I am worthy of space, wherever that may be. I am worthy of having a job I love. I am qualified. I belong. Anyone who doesn't welcome my presence or ideas, I won’t worry about.

So my announcement to the world is:  

“I am coming in!”

3 – 2 – 1 Launch

Just like all of us, I wanted to have it all.

I had a great job working for a health-food company I believed in, for an owner who always reminded me that being a mom came first - and backed that up by letting me work from home and off the hook from traveling or working weekends. I had a wonderful husband (hi Jeff!) and young son, Keaton; and a brand-new beautiful baby, Orion, as mesmerizing as the stars he was named for.

Even through my sleepy haze the two months following my second son’s birth, my career aspirations nagged at me. Staying home without working was not an option for us financially and left me feeling intellectually unstimulated. But the time spent raising my sons was priceless – and I was getting to a point where I would be unwilling to give it up.

Those groggy months I wracked my brain for a solution that would allow my family to thrive. How could we all have it all: physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually and financially? I interviewed friends to get their input and found the answer in something I had been doing for years.

You see, I help people. I love getting to know them and becoming a confidant. People amaze me with their resilience. I have helped many of my friends through trying times. I love listening, asking questions, and guiding them through their growth. We are all truly miracles.

I believe that the hurdles which arise in our lives – like my career dilemma – are challenges that we are fully prepared to conquer but the stress and busyness of everyday life often leave us spinning rather than launching into tomorrow.

If you find yourself at such a crossroads, I can help. Much like my friends did for me during this transition, I can give you the tools and guidance to face life’s challenges and come out the other side the woman you want to be.

Be your best.

Jessica