Social Education and the Home Office

Think back to the last job you had? What did you learn from that job? Did your employer train you in a new system, or send you to a conference? Did you learn something on your own to make your job easier? Well guess what! Learning doesn’t stop!

Just because you start working from home, doesn’t mean you can stop learning new things. To be brutally honest, the learning curve gets just a little bit more important when you are removed from a normal office environment. Being at home you don’t have the opportunities to bounce ideas or ask questions of people that you do at a standard office. When you work at home you isolate yourself to an extent. In order to bounce ideas off people you either have to email them and hope they are on-line at the same time as you, or phone them and hope they have the time to brainstorm. For these reasons it is vital to continue learning and researching. You are, now more than ever, responsible for finding the right answers and implementing them.

Now, how do you know what to research or learn next? That will depend on what interests you and what you are doing in your daily work life. I would strongly suggest joining some type of social network. These networks can be great places to bounce ideas back and forth with people who are impartial to your business. If you choose the right network, you can also learn many different things. There is a wealth of information available in a social network because of the people that belong and participate in them. Take the time to find the social network that fits your needs and lifestyle. Its a great, free way to open the walls and get back some of the social atmosphere that we lose by working from home.

Learning doesn’t have to cost money and in truth the best things I have learning in recent times haven’t cost me a dime. Make time in every day or week to learn something new. To research something that interests you. Find an outlet to communicate with others and share the knowledge that you have gained over the years. Make sure to have a social network to replace the social atmosphere you are giving up by working at home.

Kristi

Thank you all for visiting

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for visiting my site. The articles you will find here are meant to empower you on your search toward a happy and healthy home office. Whether you are searching to start your own business or hoping to work for someone else, these articles can assist you in finding your optimal work life balance.

As a single mother I know how hard the quest toward a healthy home life can be. I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to work form home and take care of my child. This site was started to let others know that there are options available for those who are determined enough to find them. Working from home is not going to be a walk in the park, just as working in an office environment is not easy. Work is work and no matter where you do the work, it must get done. It is how you choose to do the work that makes the difference.

I wish all of you the best. I will post more articles soon.

Kristi Bennitt

The Home Office Debate

How can I work from home? This is a question that has been going around and around for a long time. It is a valid question, though the question itself is not ‘can I’ but ‘how do I’. Everyone can work from home; it’s finding the right job that’s the hard part. Data Entry, though one of the fastest growing virtual jobs on the market, is not for everyone. Just as bookkeeping and accounting isn’t everyone’s favorite. So, how do you find the job that’s right for you? Look!

You know what your good at. You know what you want to be doing. Now take that information and find the job that fits it. Sometimes that job hasn’t been invented yet, which just means you need to do more looking. There are three key steps to finding or creating your perfect virtual job.

1.       Know What You Want – If you’re having trouble figuring out what it is your good at or what you want to be doing, try running through the exercise listed in ‘Finding Your At Home Work Option’.

2.       Research – How can you apply for a job or start a company if you don’t know what’s available? Employers around the globe are looking for motivated, organized individuals to fill positions on their virtual teams. Your job is to find them.

3.       Apply – Whether that means sending in a resume, talking to a manager, or getting your business license and materials together. The only way to get the position you’re dreaming of is to apply for it.

There is one further step I would suggest before you apply for that position. Make sure you are ready to work from home with all of its distractions. Just because you get that cool job you’ve dreamed of for years doesn’t always mean you’re ready for it. Be organized, be structured, and stay professional. Just because you’re wearing bunny slippers under the desk doesn’t mean your team knows it. Staying on top of things and being organized about your work and working environment will go a long way to ensuring you keep the job you spent so many nights dreaming about.

To all of you who are looking I wish you luck. To those who have captured your dreams, congratulations. To all of us a reminder to stay organized no matter what the day throws your way!

Kristi Bennitt

Finding a Mentor: Why its that important!

Working from home takes a lot of time, energy and commitment. It can also isolate you from the business world. We learn more than we realize in a standard office. We communicate with our peers, and learn about new techniques, new software, different thought patterns. These are things that are harder to come by when you work from home. They are not impossible to come by however, and that is where a mentor can help. Not only can a mentor teach you new things, they can also help you hone the skills you have. The purpose of a mentor is not to instruct you on right and wrong. You are not in school. The times of lectures and text books are behind you. A Mentor’s job is simply to guide you in your chosen path.

Choosing a mentor can be easy or difficult depending on what you want to learn and how you learn. It is likely that you know someone already that has something they can share with you. a Mentor will not be around forever. That which they have to share with you or teach you will take time, but at some point they will cease being your mentor and simply be your friend and/or peer. The best way to figure out where your next mentor is hiding is to brainstorm. Figure out what you know, what you want to know and who you know that might know those missing pieces. Is there someone else in your field of work who may have more experience than you that would be willing to share their story with you?

Should I pay a mentor? That depends entirely on your relationship with that person, the amount of time you want from them, and the type of knowledge you wish to gain from them. Each mentor is going to be different. Some you will pay for their time while others will be free. It is up to you and the person you choose to decide if payment is necessary and what that payment will be.

Where are the best places to look? That too depends on what you are looking for. If your looking for help with marketing and figuring out what works and what doesn’t than you want to look for a marketing expert. If on the other hand you are looking for help organizing and planning, than you want someone with event coordination, project management, and/or Administrative experience. There are places where all of these people come together, you just have to find them. A good place to start is your local church. Even if you are not a member, the church staff can and will help you find someone to answer your questions and guide you to the right mentor. Talk with current or former co-workers. What about your parents or siblings? Do they know or know someone else who might know what you want to know?

Do I need a professional Mentor? A professional mentor is someone who is trained to guide you in a certain direction. They can be extremely beneficial or a waste of money depending on what you are trying to achieve. By knowing what you are looking for you can evaluate if a professional mentor is right for you. Keep in mind that by using your own social network you could learn the same things the professional will teach you, but it could take twice as long and will most likely come from a variety of sources. Who you choose, what you pay, and how you learn are all things you must decide for yourself. Just as you cannot pay someone to learn for you, choosing a mentor must be your responsibility. More than just the information you seek, there must be an emotional compatibility between you and your mentor. You will not learn from someone you do not respect.

Mentors are extremely helpful in guiding and teaching those around them the things they know. These people are extremely precious and anyone lucky enough to have one knows that they are invalueable. Not just for the knowledge they impart but for how and why they do what they do. I hope everyone finds at least one mentor in their lifetime. Whether you are looking for a business mentor or a mothers advise. A mentor will be there to guide you!

I hope this is useful to all of you whether you work from home or not.

K

Finding The Right Preschool

Whether you work at home or not, there will come a time when your child is ready to start school. For most of us, that time comes way to fast. Not all children start their education with preschool. Its just not for everyone, but for those who decide to venture on this path, there are a few keys that will help you find the right school for your little one.

The first key, is time. How often and for how long makes a lot of difference to each individual child and their parents. Should you start with half day or whole day? Two days a week, three days a week, or five days a week? These questions can generally be answered by your child. OK, so not vocally, but they can communicate to you in other ways what they are ready for or not ready for. If they are used to being in daycare all day, than a full day preschool will feel more natural to them than a child who has not been exposed to that type of environment.

Does your child have an special needs or concerns? These can be medical needs or non-medical needs. No child should be treated as if they have a disability. Give them the chance they deserve to figure out who and what they are and they will surprise everyone with the results. Every child has some special need or concern that the preschool can help to address. From attention disorders and socialization, to communication impediments and motor skill improvement. It is important to check out the preschools in your area to see if there are any that can address your specific child’s needs in a fashion that makes you the parent comfortable.

What is the environment like? Look at the preschools in your area and take the time to visit a few. Evaluate them with the criteria above and the ones that fit those criteria the best you should set up some time to visit them and get a feel for the teachers, staff, and environment. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. After all, this is the beginning of your child’s education. You want the best for them. Not every school has to fit, just one!

There are other considerations to keep in mind such as cost, location, availability, etc. But whether you choose a private or public preschool the top three criteria will help you find the one that works best.

K

Happy Mothers Day!

Hi Everyone,

To all those who have taken on the challenge of motherhood, happy mothers day! Being a mom is one of the most rewarding things we will ever do and one of the most important. Those little minds take in everything around them. Every action you take or don’t take, reflects back on them and they pick up on how you and others react to the world around us. Being a parent is a challenge and blessing.

As a single mother it is the hardest thing in the world to seperate yourself from your child. Even if that seperation means earning enough to keep a roof over your heads and food on the table. That’s why I am so lucky to be able to work from home. But even us home office dwellers need to get out and about. Don’t forget to crack a window and take time out to play and nurture your precious little one. Join a co-op group, or reading group. Go to the park or go swimming at the local pool. One of the coolest things about working from home is that you get to make your own hours. If its a beautiful day, go outside. Finish that project during naptime or after the muchkin goes to sleep at night. Keep your priorities simple and everything will fall into place.

I hope all of you have an enjoyable day tomorrow and spend as little time working as possible. May your hopes of working from home become reality.

K

Ideas for a Green Home Office

We can all relate to the need to go green, but how exactly are we supposed to do that and still stay on top of our work? There are some simple things that even us home workers can do to go green. As a home workers, you have already made one significant green change. By not driving to work you are saving more than just the environment, you are also saving your pocket book. With fuel prices at nearly $4.00 a gallon who can afford to drive to work anyway.

Another small change is to switch to compact florescent light bulbs. They save energy (which saves you money), last longer (which saves you money), and are more friendly on the environment. Not to mention they are better for your eyes than standard and by far better than florescent lighting. Though nothing beats sunlight and it is even better when you can turn off the lights completely and use good old mother nature to light your worktable. (Even more savings as sunlight is free!)

One last simple green step we can all take is to turn down the thermostat. Even though we are home, doesn’t mean we need to have the house temp at 70 or above. Try setting your thermostat at 68 during the day and dropping it to 65 at night. You’ll see the savings in your bill and it is likely after the first two days you’ll forget you even made the change. The reason for the drop in temp at night is simple. We humans actually sleep better in a cooler environment. So by dropping the heat slightly you are doing your body a favor and will most likely wake more refreshed and ready to tackle the day ahead.

There are other changes you can implement such as: solar panels, wind generators (especially here in the northwest), rain water collection systems, hybrid cars, the 100 mile diet…Just make sure that whatever you do you do for the right reasons. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to switch to a hybrid car when you only drive your vehicle once a week and its to the grocery store and back. It does make sense to keep your vehicle in top shape with regular maintenance. Do what works for you and as always what is best for your family.

I hope everyone had a great Earth Day and even if you don’t implement new changes, know that the simple change of working at home has made an impact.

K

Humor is Good For The Soul!

Anyone with children will tell you that survival is attainable, but it takes a lot more than love to get you there. It takes love, support, a great parenting plan, and a sense of humor…And lets not forget patience, which always seems to come in short supply when its needed the most.

I am blessed with a great support system, a wonderful child, and a quirky sense of humor that has saved me from meltdown more times than I care to remember. There is no such thing as too much support, just as there is no such thing as too much love. Then there’s the humor!!!

I recently ran across one of the most hilarious books I have ever had the pleasure of reading and I would recommend it in a heartbeat. ‘The Grass is Always Greener Over The Septic Tank’ by Erma Bombeck is a riot and takes the old addage ‘Are we There yet!’ to a whole other zip code. I do hope you can find a copy, you will not be disappointed.

‘The Grass is Always Greener Over The Septic Tank - is the expose to end all exposes - the truth about the suburbs: where they planted trees an crab grass came up, where they planted schools and taxes came up, where they died of old age trying to merge onto the freeway, and where they finally got sex out of the schools and back into the gutters.’

K

Tidbits to Live On!

Every job, every experience we take a tidbit of life experience away with us. These tidbits alone are just that, a bit her an a bit there and fairly useless. Put them together and you find that these bits can be something useful. The information I have may seem just a bit to me, but to someone else it is a gem. The knowledge we as mothers lock inside ourselves is amazing. Add in those bits of knowledge we get from our work environments, our social engagements, our children’s lives and we get tidbits to live on.

One of the hottest trends in on line marketing is the idea of taking an idea and making it into an information product. Who among us hasn’t sat down at some point and said, wow that was a great idea. I should share that…so why don’t we? If each of us contributed one idea or one info product to an on line market, we would have two amazon.com’s. Alone, we may just have one thing. Its together that we have a collection of worthwhile and potentially valuable ideas.

Think through what you did, where you went, what your kids did, and what you have yet to accomplish this week. Then pull out that one tidbit that you could share with other mothers, coaches, leaders, etc. that would make their day simpler. That tidbit could be your golden ticket, but only if you write it down and figure out what to do with it. Make a goal for this weekend to find at least one of these tidbits of information and write it down. Try keeping a small journal near your bed and write down one or two tidbits each night before you sleep. By the end of a week, you could start your own tidbit book. By the end of a month you will have enough for your own store. At this rate, what could a year bring you?

Each of us is special and has the skills to be spectacular at whatever we decide to do. Think outside the box for more than just your next dinner recipe.

K

Bumps in the Road!

Everyone knows that the road traveled is rarely smooth. So true is the path of the work at home mother. You will have days when you are sick, but your work still needs to get done and your child (or children) is still running around making disasters. There are times when your kids are ill and they want nothing but mom 24/7. And then comes the time when your work starts to take over and you need to find time to be mom. So far, I have been lucky. My son is growing up to be a polite and caring young man who is rarely ill. My work has been steady and has rarely conflicted with the needs of my son. However a pot hole is now square in my path and I have to find a way to move it.

That is what being a mother is all about. Moving the rocks and filling in the potholes before they become problems. So how do I fill in this crater before it causes damage? I ask for help! That’s right. The simplest thing in the world and the best resource us women have is our communication skills. We talk like no other. Just ask any guy on the street. So now I ask, how do I go about finding a nanny/care-giver for my son who speaks German and will work for peanuts? An Aupair would be great, but let’s face it if I could afford one I would have one already. What I need is another mother who can help me out two to three mornings a week in trade for two to three afternoons a week. So where to start my search? That is the question of the night…If you have suggestions please submit them here.

Also, if you know of someone looking for a good VA job, send me a note. The company I work with is hiring!

In life we are given a choice: Help ourselves, or help others. I choose both!

K