by Robert Bruton

Created on: March 30, 2009

Technology has made working from home just as productive as working in an office. You can do anything from your home that you can do from the office compliments of technology. To me that is really cool. If you have a job that can be done virtually from anywhere, virtual being the optimal word here. Then I can tell you without hesitation, better than any corner office you could get. The office just down the hall from the family out does anything your company could bestow upon you.

Since I am a dad I can speak to you from a dad's perspective. But certainly working mom's can more than relate. Here is a very tough scenario that young fathers must face and will at some point. You have something come up at the office that prevents you from making a child's event. Could be a ball game, recital and even a birthday party, then you have to make a choice over job or child. A terrible choice to make but one that you will have to at some time and since the family relies on the income from your job the choice is all to clear, work! How many firsts in the life of your child do you have to miss because of work? The answer is a lot.

But here is the way cool thing about working from home. If done properly! You can leave to watch your child's event and then come home and finish whatever it is you happen to be working on. Working from home allows you to balance your time. Get up a little earlier, work a while when everyone is in bed. Time management will be more critical here. Keep a good daily journal of what you have to get done, make sure you get it done and enjoy life.

Here is the other thing to being at home. How many dads don't get to hear a child come home from school, burst open the door to scream "I am home"? How many of you mom's enjoy that sound and cherish it? Think about it dad, you get to hear about a lot of really great stuff with your children. But most times it's way after the fact. How cool would it be to take 30 minutes and go throw a football with your son after school? Take your daughter to ballet. Kids want to have time with both parents. You did, I did, and everyone does!

Having spent most of my adult career in Retail or owning retail businesses, I can without hesitation tell you it stinks to miss family events. Times I would have traded anything to be with my kids. Retail folks I sympathize. You work when others are not. You work holidays. It stinks. So if you have a chance to work from home, share in your children's lives. Don't think, run, scream, and as loud as you can say "I WILL TAKE THAT JOB"!

Working from home takes discipline. You must set boundaries with spouses and children to get work accomplished. This is not an opportunity to sleep till noon and begin work. It is easy to fall into bad habits, sleep in, watch Oprah, catch up on soaps. Just remember this is about freedom and freedom is not free. When it's time to work, work. When it's time for kids, kids. But the balancing act is much easier from home. No commute, no boss looking over your shoulder and the freedom to enjoy life. All that is required from you is performance. You have to give that at the office, but would it not be more fun from home? See ya at the house!

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