From the Desk of Janet Barclay

Today marks the end of Home-Based Business Week for this year. Since it falls on the tails of our Canadian Thanksgiving, it seems an appropriate moment to reflect on why I am thankful that I own and operate a home-based business.

1. No set schedule - for me, this doesn’t mean taking time off whenever I don’t feel like working, but starting work as soon as I jump out of bed if I feel like it. I’m truly a morning person, so spending the first couple of hours of the day rushing around to go out and then driving to a job does very little for my mood or my productivity.
2. No dress code - I’ve never really seen getting dressed up as being conducive to doing good work. Sure, it’s important to look your best when you’re meeting with clients or other external contacts, but for working at my desk, jeans are just fine for me.
3. Few interruptions - I rarely see clients in my home office, and when I do, it’s for a scheduled appointment, so if I sit down to work on something, I know I will not be interrupted by drop-ins or co-workers. Sure, the phone rings occasionally, but if I’m really involved in a project - that’s what voice mail is for!
4. No commuting time/expense - when I finish this entry, I will shut down my computer and go and make soup, and I know I won’t have to face any traffic or bad weather on my way to the kitchen.