Working from home

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I started DP Web Development in the office of my house here in Sevenoaks, Kent.

There are advantages to this. It cuts costs. There are no commutes or renting of offices. This allows me to keep costs to an absolute minimum. That means I can charge less for my services.

Here’s what it’s like for real. The pros and the cons. Let’s start with the pros.

  • I set my own hours. That doesn’t mean I work less! But I can vary them some days I work early finish early and other days I work late. No  “OMG you’re 15 minutes late.”
  • No Commute. Need I say more?
  • Fewer interruptions. I GET MORE DONE.
  • Clothes. I don’t have to dress “formally” anymore. I wear what I am most comfortable in.
  • I am my own boss.. I’m the best manager I’ve ever had.
  • I see more of my wife and son. Priceless. I was there when he took his first steps.
  • NO Office politics. Need I say more? I’v enever understood this crap anyway. What do people get out of it really? Unless you’re a tosser.
  • Less StressI find my home-based work environment significantly less stressful than any of the corporate jobs I’ve had in my life.
  • I am location independent. I have worked from the local coffee shop and very nice it was too.
  • Honestly I am fulfilling a dream of being my own boss. Working where I want to be on my own terms

Cons

Erm, I’m sure there must be some.

  • Loneliness.  Well not really. I have friends, family a fucking phone if necessary.  I don’t get that argument at all. You don’t choose your work colleagues but you choose who you are with (and when) working from a home office.
  • Procrastination. People say you won’t work as much. It’s not hard really. Just a bit of self-discipline is all it takes. I around 40 hours a week. Sometimes it’s less sometimes it’s more.  If I didn’t work I would not make any money. So the motivation is clear.
  • It’s harder to separate your private life from your business life. NO it’s not. My work is in my office. My home life is out of it. Ids that a hard thing to grasp? It’s kinda similar to “normal” work. The work is at the office and not out if it?

There are more I’m sure of it.. Tell me about them

I’ll be honest though. I love working from home. It benefits my clients as I keep costs low and it benefits me for the reasons outlined above. And I don’t get the so called drawbacks.

But here’s what really cool. Why should I be tied to home?

Perhaps I should  have titles this post, “working from where you want to be.  Being location independent.”   I’m not bound to the office in my home if I don’t want to be. I can work in the park, in a café, in another country and people do do it.

Check out:

http://www.themiddlefingerproject.org/about/ this page contains one of the best quotes I have read in my entire life. Seriously.

http://suitcaseentrepreneur.com/ This is the true epitomy of being location independent. Natalie literally lives out of her suitcase and runs a successful business to boot.

http://www.loveplaywork.com/  You known that screensaver of the beautiful beach with a crystal clear blue sea? Why don’t you go there and have as a real view while you work? That’s’ what Hannah and Chris did.

There are loads more people doing it.

AND GUESS WHAT. I’ll  be joining them soon!! DP Web Development is going  location independent and will be travelling to another continent in the not too distant future.  WOO HOOOOO!!