After enduring years of face-reddening two-hour commutes, overbearing bosses, and mundane Monday morning meetings, most workers would jump for joy at the prospect of striking out and working from home as an entrepreneur. The ability to set one's own hours, freedom to come and go without being micromanaged, the excitement of a new career – the thrill of it all causes many to dream of that day when they can leave it all behind for greener grasses. However, the grass isn't always so green on the other side – here's why.
Unsteady Income and Business Debt
Particularly if the worker decides to start a business at home, income from the venture tends to rise and fall quickly as debt levels increase. Many a new entrepreneur simply can't stomach this risk; thus the reason 75 to 80 percent of small businesses fail each year. Taxes are another impediment that pose a risk to first-time business owners. The secret is to sell a niche product or service that is in high demand.
Working at Home Breeds Poor Socialization Skills
When a person works from home for several years or longer, that constant reminder of social norms and how to properly relate to one another fades. It's also in the little everyday things like clear speech and control over bodily noises. This spills over into other social spheres like church and outings with friends and can become embarrassing. And should a job interview come up for another full-time position, the at-home employee may find talking to oneself and even snorting a problem.
Working From Home Gets Lonely
Sure the first few months of home work is wonderful, relieving, and exciting. It's like a career honeymoon that surely could not get old or boring. Yet many who work at home for a year or longer have reported a secret desire to be back in the workplace – not for the sake of self-torture, but because he or she misses the office camaraderie. No free food, lunch outings, or gossiping about the latest decision from clueless management. The silence can be deafening.
Working at Home Breeds Excessive Worry
Interestingly, those who set up a home office often report feelings of worry. In part this is because the person may start feeling more isolated from society, and thus helpless in the event of a medical problem or other emergency. Too much quiet time sans the normal rumblings of a typical office environment can become disabling if the worker is already prone to obsessive thinking or worry about health or financial problems. Because there are no distractions, the mind easily wanders.
Working from home can be the best decision a person has ever made. Or, it could be an adventure in stress, isolation, and worry. Those who set up a home office can make decisions early on to make the experience a positive one, such as going out in public every day to keep up the social skills and human face-time. Whatever the case may be, understanding the drawbacks to home work aids in dealing with life after the corporate office environment.
Daniel Gansle - Daniel J. Gansle is the author of 2012: Day of Reckoning, graduate of Anthropological Studies and expert in ancient Mayan culture.
