Forum Moderators: LifeinAsia
I have a couple of questions though.
1) How much notice should I give my employer, and how should I give the notice (oral, writing, etc)? I do not want to burn any bridges.
2) For those of you who have left your day jobs, do you regret it? Would you do anything differently?
3) Finally, is there any sort of social stigma associated with not going to a "day job"? I realize that running a business can be a fulltime job in and of itself, but do people (friends, family, and new acquaintances) treat you differently if they learn you work from home? My gut feeling tells me that if they do treat you differently, then they are probably jealous (considering that many self employed people make much more $$ than they could at a dayjob, and have a lot more free time), but I would not want to seem like a "bum" with "no job" in their eyes.
This could be an interesting topic for us to delve into the how-to's of leaving your day job. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Sounds like 'the thoughest job you'll ever love' :)
I went from
- a warehouse job: no actual punch clock, but close
- to graduate school: like being self-employed except minus the actual income part ;-)
- to full-time telecommuting, but for an employer.
Lately I've been trying to think of something I could do to get rid of the employer part, but haven't come up with a good plan.
I can answer some questions of the original poster's questions though. As for question 3 and the "stigma", I have to agree with everyone, but especially with
bunltd:
Not a stigma as much as misconception of how you spend your time. Some will think that "you're not doing anything" because you're at home all day. Some will think you can talk on the phone all day or visit anytime - just be polite but firm with those and tell them you're working and you'll have to call them back, or see them another time...
It's really hard for people, especially my wife, to realize that you are home, but unavailable (my wife knows it intellectually, but on a practical level it's hard). I had a two-week visit from an elderly aunt whom I love, but it was disastrous in terms of work - she didn't really get that I don't spend my day sitting around chatting.
If I could, I would do like my cousin who has an office set up in a nicely finished shed in his back yard. It's a nice work space, he can work "at home", but he can also "go to work" in a physically separate building.
As for free time, true you don't necessarily have more (although, if you have a one-hour commute, you can now work two more hours without losing any personal time). However, you do have a lot of discretionary time. That means you need discipline, but it also means that you don't have to work at certain time just because everyone else does. If I want, I go to a matinee movie - no lines, cheaper prices. Or, where I live now, I'm on the ski trails in 15 mins. I go for a ski and am home by 10am. So I have to work late? Big deal! Everyone else who works until dark is either spending the winter getting fat or working out indoors at the gym.
I don't have kids, but if you do, you'll find that you will be one of the parents who can actually go to parent-teacher meetings and such because your schedule is not set by anyone but you (or perhaps a client). If it's important to you, you can be there. Okay, you may work until midnight after your kids are in bed, but again, would you trade that for working until 10pm and missing that part of your kids' lives?
Even if you work more, you will also be able to do more for yourself if you can master two things
1. discipline - working and not sitting on WebmasterWorld writing long posts about working :-)
2. separation, compartmentalization - know when you are working and when you are not.
Working from the home carries with it that persistent nagging feeling, whenever you are relaxing, that "Hey, I could be working and making money now. I should get to work." Sometimes you should, and sometimes you shouldn't.
Tom
It's a bit scary but also very exciting.
Wish me luck :D
A few people here have mentionned the social stigma, but what I have found most difficult has been working alone from home. When it is -30C out, I can go for days without seeing anyone else besides my two roommates.
I make a point of eating out 2-3 times a week for lunch, and getting involved in community organizations (advocacy, co-ops, etc..).
Yesterday I even went to work at the Farmer's market, where I am helping a friend who is starting a business selling food. It seems odd to do a minimum wage job, but it really isn't for the money- it's a 5 hour/week cooking position in a high-traffic, very social situation (OK, let me be explicit: I'm advertising the fact I'm a guy and a good cook ;)
Neighbourhood bars, live music- anything to get out of the house, meeting people and stop thinking about work.
Others have mentionned separating your personal space from your work space. Making your work space more comfortable is another good idea. Bluelook's advice about eyes is right on the money- consider getting a very high-resolution LCD screen. Fewer headaches, faster reading... it pays for itself in the first year by productivity gains.
I regret not having bought a better desk, chair and mousepad. Chances are, if you are like most of us who start a business, you'll be spending 60+ hours a week in front of your computer. It shouldn't be hard on your body.
what I have found most difficult has been working alone from home
I volunteered at a non-profit bookstore just for kicks. I don't think I could ever do the full-time work from home thing if I weren't married.
Tom
wellzy
I 'jumped' 4 months ago. After the first 3 weeks, I had aching arms & shoulders from the ridiculous 18 hour days at the keyboard (setting up my business, building my own site, emailing, and actually doing paid work).
I went out and bought a really good chair, cordless mouse/ keyboard etc & a book on ergonomics & posture. The best money spent so far.
One of the 'unspoken' issues when you first set up your own business is the time you have to spend 'setting up the business'. Which means ridiculous hours if you also have to earn a living at the same time - so I totally agree that you need to buy a really good adjustable chair, and understand ergonomics/ posture etc (so you can set the chair/ desk/ mouse/ keyboard/ screen location etc) - or you'll be in real trouble with back/ arm pain in a short space of time......
Chris_D
crobb305 - some great advice here, I would second alot of the thoughts and only caution that you don't have all the affiliate eggs in 1 basket, on a couple of different levels
don't rely on a single program for payments, I was doin $8,000+ per month with CapitalOne when I quit the day job, gotta alot of gray hairs when they cancelled their program
don't rely on a single source of traffic, be it google, ink, and especially if it is ppc,
Lastly keep your work contacts alive, I was able to do a temporary consulting gig while I had to rebuild after a few setbacks
As far as any stigma, my view is anyone who would view that negatively is kinda missing the point of life ;-)
GOOD LUCK!
