Being distracted is so easy when you’re working at a home business, especially when there are family activities and obligations. 
This is a challenge so many home business owners face, so sometimes they find meeting deadlines and being productive a challenge.
 Productivity, whether it’s making a product or performing a service, is the desired result of a home business. Without adequate productivity, you will find you aren’t earning money.
 Here are some tips for being more productive:
 *Set specific working hours and try to stick with them.  Yes, you often must work around other activities in the household and with your family. However, if …read more

In Jean Murray’s guest post, Working at Home with Your Spouse, she discusses sharing an office with her husband, both of whom work at different businesses. 
What if you and your spouse work at the same home business, as my husband and I do?  As my dad and mom did on their farm?  As my classmate’s parents did operating a country general store?
What problems do you encounter and how do you solve them?

Both of you are different personalities and may tackle the jobs in your business differently.  It may be a challenge at first to work together, especially if this is something …read more

With the downturn in the economy, more of us are working more hours and harder than ever.  And those of us in small home businesses are working even more than that, if possible.  How many days a week do you work?
Since I left my full-time job in December to work on my home-based business, I have tried to save at least one day a week to relax, do my quilting.  It hasn’t happened very often.  Most weeks, I finish what I have to do just in time for Monday morning to roll around.
And it isn’t just about work.  I had …read more

Last week I wrote about un-supportive spouses/significant others/partners.  But un-supportive children are a different story.
An adult has a choice and two adults can have a meaningful, if spirited, conversation and come to some conclusion.  But can you persuade a child to be understanding and supportive?
Well, I guess you can bribe them, but I’ve found that doesn’t work for very long.  And, like all bribes, they keep escalating.  So pretty soon they own the house…and the car… and you’re in trouble.
So what do you do? How do you get your children to support you in your decision to work from home? …read more

Over at Small Business Boomers, we just finished up a “Holiday Movie” contest. It got me to thinking about movies that feature people who work at home. Here is what I came with; if you have others, let me know:
Cheaper by the Dozen – Frank and Lillian Gilbreth work at home, and raise 12 children. (1950 version, remade in 2003 with Steve Martin as Frank)
What About Bob? (1991)  A psychiatrist working at home (Richard Dreyfus and Bill Murray)
Carrie in Sex and the City (movie and TV series) – she is a home-based writer
Funny Farm (1988)- Chevy Chase …read more

I haven’t participated in Blog Carnivals in the past, but I decided to try it.  Home Biz Notes got a featured (top) spot on Empowered Mom’s “Work at Home Blog Carnival.”
Lots of the other posts look interesting.  I’m going to check them out….
If you find anything interesting, let me know.