PowerPoint Presentation

The Pitfalls of Working from HomeAnd How to Avoid Them

WordCamp Nashville 2016

@SITELOCK

@SITELOCK

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@SITELOCKMay 10th, 2012 Best and most exciting days of my life.

I had started working from home 30 days before he was born.

Fast forward a year and a half. I was struggling with the work at home llife.

I had fallen into many (if not all) of the Pitfalls well be discussing today.

I was considering going back to the day job. The 9-5.

And Then

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@SITELOCK15 months later our son had a seizure.

The scariest day of my life.

I was home with him when it happened.

I was the only who noticed it.

What if he would have been with someone else?

That moment convinced me to continue at home, and find solutions to the pitfalls I had found myself dealing with.3

Adam W. WarnerProduct Evangelist at SiteLockCo-Founder at FooPluginsDiscovered WordPress in 2005WordPress Community AddictFan of FractalsLover of MeatballsProud Dad!

@SITELOCK

WP Evangelist means that I attend WordCamps and other events and listen to the community.

What Well CoverWhatWhoWhyHow

@SITELOCKWhat:Work from Home v.s. Remote Worker. No difference.

Who:Anyone! Entrepreneur (starting a business), freelancer, customer service, developer, sales.

Why:Because its awesome.

How:Thats what well get into today

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Do You?...Currently work from home?Wish you could work at home?

@SITELOCKShow of hands please.

Currently work from home?

Wish you could start working from home?6

Approximately 25% of the U.S. workforce works remotely at some frequency.

@SITELOCKAnd that number is increasing every year.

In other words, these Pitfalls well be discussing today, affect 25% of the entire US workforce.7

MythsRemote work is easyMake your own scheduleMore free time

@SITELOCKEasier than working in an office

Schedule - do whatever you want, whenever you want

Makes work/life balance easier (child care, clean house, etc.)8

TruthsRemote work has different challengesNo pants!Your dog will bark during meetingsAvailable for lifes most important moments

@SITELOCKDistinct and different challenges than working in office

Pants are optional! (not really)9

Its Your ChoiceStop wishing. Start manifesting.What you put out is what returns to you.

@SITELOCKIt's all in the mind.

Stop wishing. Start manifesting. Believe it to be true. Guide the universe, guide yourself to the goal.

Enough Tony Robbins10

It Started with a Paper Route

@SITELOCKNewspapers. Remember those?

First remote job paper route

Short stint working for the man as bus boy, dishwasher, line cook

Second remote job - Wee Willys Weeny Wagon

Fast Forward to college. Advertising Design degree, straight to the factory floor making office furniture.

First REAL work from home jobs, although part-time:

pen and ink portrait business working from home part-time.Memorial DVD business - working from home part-time.

Back into regular jobs11

WordPress Led My Way

@SITELOCKFound during dvd memorial business

Worked in customer service for audiobook publisher managing website orders and processing

More I learned about WP, more I applied that to web dev and marketing

Bugged IT guy enough that he gave me a job

That turned into full time WP work in Floridanext slide12

@SITELOCKIn 2008, I started working in Florida (originally from Michigan) as a Web Development and Internet Marketing Manager for a large North American ventilation systems company.

In 2011, I started selling a premium WordPress plugin on the side with a business partner of mine.

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Then Things Changed

@SITELOCKIn early 2012, the parent company made the decision to close the Florida office.

Had to decide to try moving to Sweden or Kansas

Decided to take the leap and turn that premium plugin into a full time business, and get back into client work.14

Benefits of Working from Home

@SITELOCKI opened this talk with my personal biggest benefit. Taking care of your loved ones when they need you. Kids, Parents, Grandparents, etc.

Taked with Uber driver on the way here, and although not exactly working from home, he related how Uber allowed him to take care of his Mother who was terminally ill.

Short commute.

No dress code.

Live anywhere.

Home workers are happier (according to this study - http://www.lse.ac.uk/newsandmedia/news/archives/2013/10/homeworkers.aspx )15

Pitfalls

@SITELOCKAnyone remember this game? Am I aging myself too much?

If you dont know, its aptly named Pitfall and I think this visual is a good metaphor for the challenges of working from home.

Heres you. And here are all those things that can make it difficult if you dont know how to avoid them.16

Interruptions

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@SITELOCKWorkspace

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@SITELOCKNot productive if workspace isnt a dedicated place for work23

@SITELOCKCan actually be dangerous to your job.

Play video

Caught son doing this. Unintended consequences like losing unsaved work, file deletion or sending an unfinished email.24

Motivation

@SITELOCK

@SITELOCKEasily distracted by chores and other things that NEED to be done

Netflix. Hello?

Comfortable bed (or floor)26

Lack of Discipline

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@SITELOCKSelfies all day long28

@SITELOCKGames games and more games!29

@SITELOCKCreating Memes all day30

Longer Hours

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@SITELOCKTend to work 24 hoursWHY? Because work at home is ALWAYS THERE32

Work/Home Life Separation

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@SITELOCKWorking while kids are eating.

Working while sitting with your significant other.

Not fair to kids

Not fair to you

Not fair to your employer or clients

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Being Unorganized

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@SITELOCKNothing causes me more stress than being unorganized. Mentally and Physically.

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Personal Hygiene

@SITELOCK

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@SITELOCKIll admit, Ive worn the same clothes for 5 days in a row.

Ive gone a week without showering!

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Isolation

@SITELOCK

@SITELOCKStart to feel disconnected from others.

Can lead to Depression, which as we know is a very real and serious issue for many.40

Avoiding the Pitfalls

@SITELOCKInterruptionsIssue a rude alertClose the doorDont send mixed signalsWear headphones

@SITELOCKIn the zone, when out of zone, takes time to get back in.42

Workspace

@SITELOCKDont work from the couch!

Setup a dedicated workspace

Separate room.

Lauren example.

Have a set workspace. Be able to close the door and walk away. Sense of separation. Folding screen, room divider. White noise machine. Keep it sacred and off limits.43

@SITELOCKMotivation

@SITELOCKThreaten yourself. Reminder how lucky you are. Naps and breaks.

Wake up earlyPut on clothesDont work where you sleepScheduleExercise Yoga, MeditationGive yourself a reward. Want to watch TV? Do it on your lunch break.Turn off notifications!

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Discipline

@SITELOCKRoutine

Goals

Turn off notifications

Do Not Disturb Mode (Mac)Quiet Hours (Windows)

Limit email checking

Breaks46

Longer Hours

@SITELOCKEstablish office hours for yourself, listed on your website or support area.

Set Boundries

Setup timed email auto-replies

Managing Expectations47

Work/Home Balance

@SITELOCKScheduling family time!

Establish days off!

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Organization

@SITELOCKCalendar ALL THE THINGS. Events or Reminders.

Keep a clean workspace

Schedule a certain amount of time each day for administrative tasks.

Pay your bills, invoice your clients, order your office supplies, and process your mail during this time. Do it every day at the same time so it becomes part of your routine.

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Hygiene

@SITELOCKAgain, routine.

Act as if youre getting ready to commute to that cubicle job.

Shower, brush your teeth, put on clean socks!

right mindset for work and feel like it's time to get some work done is to dress as though you're headed to the office50

Isolation

@SITELOCKMeetupsWordCampsFacebook GroupsSlack Groupssupport system. Coworking space.51

Remote Resources

@SITELOCK

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Jobs Boardshttp://jobs.wordpress.net/http://www.indeed.com/q-remote-jobs.htmlhttps://weworkremotely.com/http://jobs.supportdriven.com/

@SITELOCKIndeed search with email notification

http://jobs.wordpress.net/

Weworkremotely.com

https://supportdriven.com/ (also a community portal for those working in remote support)

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Appshttps://www.rescuetime.com/

@SITELOCKRescueTime (time management app. Desktop and mobile. Tracks time spent in apps and websites. Detailed reports based on activity.

Buddhify tell story of different meditations.Used one on plane.I find it helps calm my mind from all the tasks and other todos prioritizing and reprioritizing

CalmHeadspace54

Thank YouFollow at:@SiteLock@wpmodderSlideSharehttp://www.slideshare.net/wpprobusinessMy Blog Posts:http://wpdistrict.sitelock.comhttp://adamwwarner.com

@SITELOCKSiteLock security news/tips, WordPress community interviews

Wpmodder Mostly WordPress, direct replies55