Success From The Sofa Requires Career Self-Exam
By Heather Zeng
Winter 2006-07
For individuals seeking to strike a fulfilling balance between family and career, working at home can provide an attractive alternative to the daily office grind. For some, the appeal centers on the ability to self-direct their work efforts. Still others want to care for their families while accessing additional income.
Before you take the plunge, beginning and maintaining a productive work-at-home arrangement requires a careful examination of several career questions. As I work with clients, I encourage individuals to get a blank journal and begin jotting responses to four critical questions. This process will help you revisit and reflect on your choices, enabling you to make adjustments along the way.
What am I looking for in a work-at-home arrangement?
It is important to write down your motivations for wanting to work at home. Begin by drawing three columns in your journal with these headings: “Positives,” “Negatives” and “Contributions.”
First, write down the positive aspects that working at home could bring to your life. For example, some may consider the time and money that would be saved by discontinuing a long commute. For others, there’s no intimidating boss or annoying office politics.
Also consider any negatives that might apply to an at-home work arrangement. These may include working longer hours in the start-up process or the lack of a social network that exists in traditional work settings.
Finally, in the “Contributions” column, write down the kinds of contributions you believe you can make with this work. For example, when you hear individuals talk about their careers, they often note the ability to make a contribution to their community, society or country. Are these relevant to your decision? If so, how do they fit into your stay-at-home equation?
What kind of work would I enjoy?
This is one of the essential questions to all career choices. An effective career decision is oversimplified if you consider only what seems lucrative, popular or easy. Working at home requires substantial self-direction, motivation and organizational skills. These will come much easier with work you like.
I recently worked with one client whose love of cooking piqued her interest in starting an at-home business. We brainstormed her interests, identifying the cooking-related aspects she liked most and then narrowing to her primary enjoyment of making pies. She started an at-home cottage industry making specialty pies.
What interests, abilities and life role experiences do I bring to this work arrangement?
It is always essential to understand your interests and abilities when making any career change. Assessments that help measure these criteria can play a large part in making your venture a satisfying one. Many education centers and family support centers offer free assessments for military members and their families. Discuss the results with a trained counselor.
An innovative career model by William Charland asks individuals to identify their life role experiences as a novice, expert or mentor. Are you a novice or expert in certain areas of your prospective business? Do you see yourself as a potential mentor to others, perhaps as your business grows or expands? Knowing yourself and how you fit into these life roles can provide some clarity as you move forward.
How can I make my home environment conducive to accomplishing work?
“I can work in my pajamas!” is a popular comment from those working at home. Yet most people are more productive when treating their work at home as real work. Consider these guidelines:
- Maintain a daily schedule and project your business goals for the next four or five months.
- Work to network: Meet local individuals and organizations in similar professions.
- Maintain a separate space at home for your business venture that clearly sets boundaries between work time and family time. Make sure your family understands these parameters to ensure a maximum work environment.
- Discuss your business expectations with your spouse and family so everyone will be on the same sheet of music and can work to meet your family’s needs and professional goals.
Find something for which you have a deep passion. This will keep you going through the initial trials of a startup, allowing you to sustain satisfying, lucrative and successful at-home work. The possibilities and opportunities in today’s work-at-home market are exciting and endless!
# # #
Dr. Heather Zeng is a Master Career Counselor and National Board Certified Career Counselor, providing expertise on career development, policy and education. She worked for six years as a guidance counselor to U.S. Air Force members and their families serving overseas. Visit www.geocities.com/careerheather or send e-mail to heatherzeng@aol.com.
MILITARY
