Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 5:31 pm Post subject: Working from Home
I'm just curious to know how many of us work from home vs at an office? When I went independent I decided to work from home and was very nervous about it. But I like it. I have clients here from time to time but mostly I go to their homes or business.
I had one nightmare client who showed up at my place all the time - without any appointment or anything and at all hours of the day and night. At my first opportunity I parted ways with that client.
All of my other clients are very respectful of it. I do toy with renting an office again - especially since I am reaching the point of needing an assistant.
Anyhow - who here works from home and what has been your experience - do you love it? Hate it? _________________ I am an insurance broker from Ontario licensed for all types of insurance.
I do a little of both but for the most part I am at the office. I like to work from home because all of luxuries of being home but at the same time I love going to the office and interacting with all my fellow agents and also I would miss out on walk-ins. But I think a little of both keeps me sane and keeps me from feeling stuck at work.
Would hate to think how many margaritas were downed by my staff if I wasn't there. _________________ Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. - Ferris Bueller
While working from home has its advantages, a person may get carried away since it is too comfortable to be at home.
Human behavior after all is always influenced by the environment. Home lacks the energy and dynamics you can find in an office. There is always silent competition amongst coworkers that makes you stay on your toes and motivates you to achieve more.
For those who choose to work from home, it is always a good idea to have home office design to help you create a productive environment. _________________ I am an insuranc sales coach for almost 2 decades. I have a collection of insurance agents' sales stories. To know more, you can visit http://www.stories-connect.com or http://xoseph.wordpress.com
I personally have worked from home (actually I'm in the field about 99%) for about eight years...however I am an adjuster not an agent...and never ever do I want anyone knowing my address... there are challenges to working at home the biggest to me is, getting it across to everyone that Lori is working right now! although she's home! _________________ Have you been helped by a poster? Do you want to show your appreciation? YOU CAN !! Just simply click on the donate button and send them some coin!
I like to just work at office.most of the peaople don't want to spend happy hours at home for the clients purpose.Unless there are are rare cases i will be talking to be on phone.
so,its better to tackle matters at office or at their home.
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well if you want to make your career as a insurance agent never think of working from home _________________ INDIAN_TUSHAR
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If I was in the business I think it would be a good opportunity to work from home. Gas prices wouldn't effect you as much (unless like Lori your in the field most of the time). I think it also would have its draw backs. When I could work I really loved the time getting away from home and feeling independant. I don;t know who all would agree with me but sometimes when your married you are so busy being a couple that you forget about you in the singular form. It was nice to get around other people and a different setting. Guess that is why I can't figure out why people chose to be unemployed.
Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 5:00 pm Post subject: Working from home
“Well if you want to make your career as a insurance agent never think of working from home” –Not so great advice. We're all not programmed to work ten hours a day while Ms. Daily Period stands over us. Nor is it any more likely humans can tolerate bullying for very long. This guy sounds intelligent, he should try it out, especially if he's got a book going. It's never to late to take crap from an employer.
Ah forget about it. I stay in my home office all day. I go out to the post office once a week that's all. I got a bathroom down here. I'm surrounded by a great sound system and all of my guitars. My fax machine, two printers, all of my study materials, insurance books, TV and DVD. I can duck out my back door to my one acre of land anytime I want if I need a break and smell the fresh mountain air and listen to the leaves blowing in the wind.
We indies who work from home can watch The Sopranos at 9am while in our PJs having breakfast. Quitting time is whenever we say and we can surf the Internet for quality adult material all day without fear of an 80-year-old, celibate “boss” catching us.
Leave the house? What for? Oh, to drive 300 miles one way to show just a prospect a few proposals? Hello? It's 2008, get out of the 70's. Faxes, teleconference, video conference…What's the point in being licensed in more than one state unless you enjoy driving and the cost of gasoline and flying to get that prospect their one proposal they were “thinking about”? Duh.
The camaraderie of the office? Oh yeah, and the back stabbing and politics and over-paid, know-nothing managers insisting you meet your weekly, insurmountable “numbers”. –this never comes with office life does it? Traffic, jerks on the road slowing everyone down. Getting up at 4am to de-ice the car. $4 gasoline, parking, tolls, maintenance on the vehicle. Forget about it. With that lifestyle you won't live very long, that I can guarantee you. Think statewide, act locally, expand slowly. Don't burn up your life savings. Live life, learn, be kind, pay your employees fairly, don't ever be a cheap-ass and stay green. Dig it baby…..
Now go and do it and don't argue with me, ever.
-Ricky C _________________ Register Now to have your Insurance queries solved.
Ricky you sure make some good points but it sounds like you have never had a really good working environment. I actuall did at one time and looked forward to going to work...Probaly helped that I was "Ms. Daily Period" but I never had trouble making the work place enjoyable.
Playing devil's advocate here, I have done both. I have to admit I love them both. Working from home allowed me to do homework when it was slow and put a little dinner on as well; however, I really missed being around other people. I think we need that communication in our lives. I think if you are starting a new business, working from home could be good since you don't need the office space right away therefore saving money; however, a business grows, you can have the flexibility, if staffed, to go in late and or work some days in or out of the office.
I think you are in tune with my line of thinking here. I haven't personally done both but when I was home with kids under school age I really missed being out there a part of things. Yes it was nice not to have to rush through the day and then home to take care of household needs but I think everyone needs some of there own time so they can feel good about themselves.
If you decide to work from home you had better be very disciplined and you better sharpen up your time management skills.
I still work from home and also have an office to go to. They both have their good and bad points.
Sometimes it is very difficult to get shaved, showered and dressed just to walk down stairs and go to work. Some people say, just work in your PJs.
I sleep in my PJs, I don't try to run a professional organization in them.
It is very true that the way we dress will have an impact on our day.
It is also sometimes very difficult to stay on schedule at home, because there are distractions.
If you have clients coming to your home office, you had better make sure that your business is insured as a business or Ms. Jones tripping on your stairs just might wipe you out.
Going to an office at another location is a hassle, no doubt, with the gas expense, the traffic, etc., but it does allow me to associate with other people and sometimes that helps.
I like both, but neither all the time. _________________
Insurance Maze. Great post and lots of very valid points there. I really agree with the getting dressed thing. It would actually put you in the business mood.
Also wouldn't it cost you more in insurance for your home of you were to use it for business purposes? Maybe could get some tax write offs..who knows..
The suing part is what would scare me...One day I had the Sears guy come because the frig wasn't making ice (brand new). It was winter time and he didn't have a good vechicle to pull all the way down in and had to walk. The driveway was a little slippery and at one point he looked at me and said "Hope you got homeowners" It WASN"T even that bad...he chose to walk in the ice/snow in stead of where it was melted because he didn't want mud on his shoes. I called that to his attention.
there are challenges to working at home the biggest to me is, getting it across to everyone that Lori is working right now! although she's home!
