Tag Archives: home office

The Elegant Art of Saying… No

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Suddenly, all your good work is paying off. You have great referrals. Business is booming. You are also in demand for every school function, community project, and online organization known to man. You have arrived! Now, the next step in building your business while maintaining your sanity is simple. You only need to know one word.

(Psssst: The word is “No”.)

Right now, even family members are calling you (and having their friends call you) when they have a question about how to look something up on the Internet, a question on which software they need, or help because their computer is acting flaky.

You have arrived!

Now, the next step in building your business while maintaining your sanity is simple. You need to know one word. That word is No.

It’s not enough to just know the word, and use it in casual conversation like, “there is no way the current economy can continue to…” or “No, I think I’ll have the roast beef instead.”

You must know how to use it when you really need it. For instance:

Business requests:

You have a client who pays slow and is difficult on a regular basis. He’s a nice enough guy, but you just don’t seem to “mesh” in work style and priorities. After multiple attempts to collect, he pays. Now he calls again:

Joe (client): “You have been great with my other projects and I want to do more work with you, but I can’t afford your rates. Another VA has offered to work with me for $20 less per hour and I can get a part time person for a fraction of your fees. I’d prefer to work with you, however, so can you lower my rates?”

You: “Hi, Joe! Great to hear from you! I appreciate your loyalty and wish I could lower my rates, but I can’t.”

Joe: “I just thought it would be nice to work with you and still be able to make a living myself. So, can you reduce it by $10 per hour?”

You: “No, I really can’t. I extended you the old rate for several months past the time I raised it for everyone else. In fact, my current rate is now $XX per hour. But, I do appreciate you thinking of me. If you want a lower priced VA, I can offer you some possible resources.”

Volunteer work:

You have spent ages volunteering and building your reputation locally, even as you were building your business on the web. Now, you have a thriving business and you are so busy that making time for your family and the other aspects of your life must come to the forefront.

Sarah: “It’s that time of year again! I’m looking forward to working with you on the bake sale! Our first meeting is Monday.”

You: “Oh Sarah, it’s so sweet of you to think of me! I do wish I could help with the Orphan Home’s bake sale again this year, but I’m already committed.”

Sarah: “You MADE the bake sale last year, we can’t possibly do it without you!”

You: You flatter me, Sarah, but, no, I really can’t. You have Jane and Ellen to help you, and I’m sure this year will exceed last year’s sales! I’ll pre-order one of Claire’s cherry pies now! Let me know how things go for you.

Family calls:

You are working in your home office when your 11-year-old bursts in:

Jessica: Dad, will you look up the habitat preferences and eating habits of Badgers in the UK for me?

You: No, you can look it up yourself on the other computer (or at the library, or at school).

Jessica: But, it will only take you a second you are an expert! (*batting eyes*) And it just takes me forever, and I never get the right kind of stuff. (*small pout*) When it comes to this computer stuff, you rock! (*beaming grin*)

You: The reason I can do it quickly is because I’ve done my own research for years. No, I won’t do your research for you, but if you want to sit down with me I’ll show you how to use some advanced techniques. Then, you can get any information you want just as quickly as I can! We can do this when you get home from school tomorrow if you like.

Just because you are overextended, your clients are stacking up, your volunteer work is coming out your ears and you have finally succeeded in becoming the go-to person for everyone you have ever known, doesn’t mean you have lost control permanently.

Consider it a great accomplishment. You have done well. Now, all you need to do is look over your list of priorities and ensure that what you DO aligns with what you WANT. If you do what you love, the money follows. But you have to make room for it. One of your best financial decisions as an entrepreneur is to decide to say No.

You can do it elegantly if you offer something to support the person making the request. In the examples above, you offered resources for Joe, the purchase of a pie to Sarah, and a tutorial for Jessica.

So go forth and learn how to say no.

Client Question: What is “Work Product” and if I Outsource, Who Owns the Work?

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Work product is the result of work. It’s that simple. When hiring work done by a Remote Professional, “work product” is the end product of that contracted labor. That may be a website, an article, a database, a marketing plan, a business plan, a logo, or anything else you pay to have produced. Once you have paid for the work done, the work belongs to you, not the person doing the work.

Exceptions to this general rule may apply if you sign a contract assigning rights to the work product to the contractor. You may be working with an individual who requires this, but this is not the “norm.” Most professionals understand that work or hire means that the end result belongs to the person (or business) hiring the work done and paying for that work. Some contractors will offer a reduced rate if they can link their business to your work product through display in an online or offline portfolio. To do so, they must have a contract which states that they have that right, or you must give them the right to do so.

When reviewing a work for hire agreement or any similar contract, you should make sure you are not limited in the way you can use or alter the work product you hired. Once you pay for a product, the way you choose to use or alter it may change. Keep your options open whenever possible. If you have a question about the way a portion of you contract or agreement reads, ask that the outsourcing provider clarify the language before you sign off. Now is NOT the time to be shy.

Some clients are proud to have their own work product displayed on a professional’s site as an example. It is an honor if an outsourcing professional considers your project an example of their best work. And, it’s always nice for a client to offer credit in the form of a web link or a small mention, but it’s not required and it’s not “standard procedure” without a contract that specifies those particulars. Be sure any permission to do so is offered by you, in writing — an email is fine.

Why should you permit someone else to display your stuff? You should do so if they give you a link back, or if your contact information remains intact in order to help boost your own marketing. I had one client for website content who had not yet submitted to the search engines. As soon as the site was up, I added his link to my site (in the form of a glowing testimonial, which I really appreciated). Within days, his site had been spidered and he had broken the “Google” barrier. The link from my established site helped to give his site a leg up. This client was kind enough to offer me a link with credit as the content and marketing guru for his site. It was a mutually beneficial exchange.

Why should you offer links to a contractor on your site? Because it makes them adore you. It’s a nice thing to do and it breeds goodwill. If their site is a well-done, quality site offering reciprocal links helps you both. If you are working with the “cream-of-the-crop” outsourcing companies and remote professionals, declaring that relationship boosts you both. It advertises that you use the best, and it helps remote professionals advertise that they have the best clients.

Whatever you decide, be sure you and your potential contractor both understand and agree to a mutually beneficial work product agreement. If you are working with a contractor for the first time, you may want to secure a contract before work begins. Taking a few extra moments now to discuss and agree on the particulars may create a more enjoyable work experience long-term.

Note: The above is for informational purposes only. If you have a contractual question, a dispute, or other concerns, you should contact your attorney for advice.

Your children and your business

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Running a home office is never easy. If you have children, it can be even more challenging. This article reviews some tips and tricks for making life on the home front more conducive to business by involving your family in the process, rather than shutting them out.

Making the change from working a “traditional” job to launching your own homebased business can be difficult. Many of you made the decision to work at home because you wanted to improve your quality of family life and your interaction with those special people. But, once the decision has made, it’s often difficult to remember your reasoning, especially when the three-year-old interrupts you for the fourth time in five minutes to “look” at that same something again. Before you lose your cool. . . try these tips.

It is easy to remember what makes it difficult for us to work at home. We are working on marketing plans, designing web pages (possibly for the first time), organizing that little corner of a room for business use, getting creative with financing, learning new skills, or rethinking our “professional identity.” What is not so easy to remember is that the spouse/significant other and the children are also affected by our choice. Before the stress of your business makes you lose your cool or you begin to think your homebased venture is impossible, try a few of the following tips.

Discuss your “approach” on a project with your spouse or significant other. Working from home can be a solitary existence, so it helps to pull in some outside advice, and you should begin with the people on the other side of your office door.

Tell the children about your decisions.

Explain that they are a big part of why you want to work from home. Even the youngest children will understand that you want to be closer to them. Let them know that it’s going to be tough work, and it will require sacrifices, but that they are worth it.

Keep them informed of what you are doing.

My own sons, prodded by questions from friends, had to ask me what I did all day at home. I should have had the foresight to tell them! All they knew was that I worked “on the computer.” Make sure that they understand, in simple terms, what you do and why. Make them comfortable answering questions by peers. (Besides, focusing your business description so a child can understand it is a wonderful way to define your business when creating your own marketing materials and networking with adults!)

Share your success.

Let your children share the excitement when you land your first contract, or make your first sale. My own children, who had been bemoaning the fact that I was “always working on that computer,” gave me ecstatic “high-fives” when I told them that I’d landed my first contract. After that, they would check in to see if I had any more clients or prospects and would inquire about my current project’s progress. Talk about built-in external motivation!

Ask for their opinions.

Let your family know that you value their opinions, not just with family issues, but on a business level. And make the questions age-appropriate. For example, if you are designing a graphic for a client and have narrowed the shades of blue to two that you like, let the youngest decide which of the two is prettiest, and use their suggestion. With older children, you can might let them read a copy of your text and ask them for their advice on the choice between two ways of saying something. (Ask which adjectives they prefer, which are more vivid, and why?)

One day my 13-year old son listened as I complained that I couldn’t properly relay what I wanted in my logo design to an online graphic artist. Then he asked me to sketch it. I did, and he got on a paint program on the computer and created a great logo for me — exactly as I had described. I sent it to the designer to clean up the rough edges and it’s the one I use today. My son and I are both quite proud of that fact!

Note that adolescents can also be “hired help” for filing, copying and scanning. Pay them a base salary for work they do well and keep the records to minimize your taxes at year-end.

Establish an “open door/closed door” policy.

Begin with as few hours a day “locked away” as possible, and expand them as you need to so the children become gently accustomed to you being off limits certain hours of the day. Explain that you are not available if the door is closed, and are available if it is open. Then be sure that the door is open occasionally. When you are filing and doing routine tasks, be available. Reserve the closed door for creative and intensive work when you cannot tolerate interruptions. When it’s closed, a good rule of thumb is: “If it’s not something that you would have phoned me about when I worked in my office outside the home, don’t knock.” Keep a notepad near the door for non-emergency situations that can be discussed later. When you open your door, review the paper and discuss it with the family member who posted it.

Take time to help your children understand.

When my 11-year-old became frustrated because I could not be interrupted while doing creative work on product descriptions for a Web site, I decided to show him why I needed the uninterrupted time. He loves writing poetry, so I asked him to write a poem for me. Once he started, I kept calling him for this or that reason–all nonessential interruptions–until he became quite frustrated. Then I sat down with him and asked him what was wrong. He told me he was angry because I kept interrupting him. He said he would start to write something, and before he could get it down, I’d interrupt him and he would lose his train of thought. About that point he looked at me and a light bulb went off. I asked him if he now understood why I became frustrated when he interrupted me. He smiled and nodded. He has been much more thoughtful about unnecessary interruptions since that little “exercise.”

Have designated mealtimes.

Enjoy mealtimes with your family–all three meals. Begin your day with an unrushed breakfast, visit with your favorite people, and nourish one another for the busy day ahead. Close up shop for lunch at the same time each day and spend that time with the children. And finish your work in time to close up shop for the evening and eat dinner with the family.

Spend time with the family.

From dinner time until the kids are in bed, spend that time with them. Yes, you are swamped! That contract is just “hanging there” waiting for you . . . there is more marketing to be done . . .you ought to check your e-mail . . .the office line is ringing, and so on. So. . .invest in an answering machine for the office phone, power down the computer, and CLOSE THE DOOR to your office from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Enjoy your family!

Sure, you can return to work after the little ones are in bed if you must, but don’t get so involved in your business life that you forget your life. And remember: If the family sees you working, understands what you do, and is asked to help, then what you do when you are “locked away” becomes less of a mystery. And they become more accommodating!