CommerceCubes

Do You… Office?

Many people who become entrepreneurs do so, in part, to get away from the dreaded office. The bland walls, cubicles the separate you from the outside world, the smell of toner in the air, that feeling of quiet desperation and the stress that seems to mount with each new day isn’t something that most people truly enjoy. Entrepreneurs and business owners are a different breed because a majority of us see “the office” as a place of conformity and can stifle the creative process and we simply cannot buy into like most people do.

When I was younger I thought there was something wrong with me after I got my first “office job” which was resolving computer leasing agreements and I didn’t buy into wanting this lifestyle for the rest of my life, and I was only 18 years old at the time. I was a pretty creative guy even back then so it was hard for me to find satisfaction doing office tasks and pretending like I cared. I’ve always had a good sense of job ownership; if you give me something I’ll do it to the nth degree. I’ll own it. But, if I am surrounded by people who just don’t care about what they are doing I find it hard to contribute fully.

Home Offices are all the rage for those entrepreneurs that either a) own a home or b) dislike structure of a truly corporate environment. Think about it, where are you most comfortable? At home of course! So it makes sense that you’d want a nice and simple home office, right?

Home offices have more distractions though then that of their more “corporate” counterparts. If you have children that are preschool age then balancing children and a home office could be nightmarish because they are always in the back of your mind when you need to focus fully on your business. Keep in mind a single guy is writing this article and I don’t have kids of my own so feel free to correct me but I would personally think that raising kids while running a business out of your house is challenging. Running a business that’s growing is challenging enough. My hat is off to you if you fall into this category of business owner.

The problem with a “Home” office

The number one problem with a home office is simply that home and work become one. If you are really busy or stressed than your safe haven will disappear. I’ve seen it first hand with my father running a HR consultancy out of his home. When he is busy there is literally no escaping the amount of things that need doing. He is in his office all hours of the day and the only time he gets away is when he is running to a meeting. My mother has also recently started to work from home and the thing as that work never leaves you when you have a home based business, home office or what ever you call it. If you have trouble separating working on your business from home you may find yourself in trouble in a home office.

Do I rent/lease an office?

Some people go out and rent or lease office space as a way to keep home and business separate. Sure it’s an office but it’s your office. When you go home you can walk away from the stress of the day, you have an excuse not to pour yourself into work because you aren’t right there and you’re probably more focused.

Now there are exceptions to the rule. Which suites you best as an entrepreneur or business owner? I am personally of the nature of keeping things real simple. I don’t have an office per say nor do I think that I need one at this point in time. I do most of my business simply wherever I am. Maybe that’s a growing trend? I am interested hearing what you think.

Lucas

Office-less and loving it