Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2004 1:38 pm Post subject: Intrusions!
Hi,
Can anyone suggest creative and effective ways to prevent or deter intrusions on my time by others? I've tried every which way,outside of beating them about the head and neck---to let folks know that my time is important to me.I work from home designing jewelry,but some still think that it's anything goes! They drop in without calling...call to ask me to babysit(!!)...skulk around outside my door etc.It's not that I'm so popular.. it's just that they really believe that I'm available for chatter etc.simply because I'm home!! And I'm HOME because it's also my workplace! I appreciate ANY suggestions to help me get rid of these slackers!
As I read your post, I could feel your frustration and smiled in empathy for your plight. Even though more and more people are opting to make their living from home, it still surprises me how casually others treat this decision.
I am reminded of a situation years ago when I was doing in-home sales. I was greeted by the lady of the house, and after a few minutes of polite conversation I asked if her husband was home, explaining that I needed them both to be available for my presentation.
She responded that he was upstairs in his office.
"Fine," I said. "We'll get started as soon as you get him to join us."
In a pleasant but measured tone, she replied, "You don't understand sir, he is working!"
I remember thinking, "But he's just upstairs. How much trouble could it be to call him down?"
Obviously they had established certain rules. He was not to be interrupted during "working hours" while she handled everything to do with the house and children during that time. I'm sure the only exception to that rule was in an emergency.
That's an example of the firmness you need to establish. Friends and family must understand how serious you are about your business and respect your "at work" time. Social visits, requests for favors and distractions during your working hours must be discouraged.
The only difference about what you do is where you're doing it. If you were in an office downtown, people wouldn't even think of dropping in to say hello, or of asking favors of your time. You must insist on the same courtesy in this case.
Should you get a phone call from a friend, politely but firmly explain that you're quite busy at the moment and suggest a time that'll be more convenient for you to chat.
Remember! You call the shots. Set up your own house rules and stick to your guns. Do it in as nice a way as you can, but be firm.
Eventually people will get the message. They'll respect you and your time. And as that becomes the norm, you'll get greater enjoyment and satisfaction from the feeling of truly being in control of your destiny.
Thanks so much for your encouragement! You hit something on the head...we who work at home take our business seriously,however,I've found that others don't--which probably accounts for some of the in-
trusiveness.Many would view those who work at home as lazy,ir-
responsible or blow it off as a "phase!" I'm a widow with an 11 year old child to raise...a year after my husband's death,I began to work at home.
That was nearly 8 years ago.To this day,his parents still believe that my working at home is "part of the grieving process" (!!!) Huh? There seems
to be a pressing need to defame the self-employed for some reason that I don't know about! Either that,or they've got some serious unresolved mental health issues.
Anyway,I thank you for your encouragement and will firmly press forward!
You have my deepest sympathies for the lost of you Husband, you are coping much better that it seems his parents are.
My Sister past away a few years ago and I believe my Mother was able to cope with the lost of her Husband better than her child. Nobody is quite prepared to live longer than their children.
As for the interuptions to your work, Harmas is correct, you are in control and must set your rules and stick to them as much as possible.
One of the freedoms of being self-employeed is the flexability to set you own hours, so you can break your own rules as the need arises.
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