26 / WORKING REMOTELY
Running a business
Being a savvy self-manager
Much of the advice covered so far in
this chapter applies just the same as if
you run a small business remotely. For
example, it’s equally important to take
care of your mental health and well-
being, to stay in regular touch with any
sta or clients, and to establish clear
boundaries between your work and
home life. But as a small business owner,
you’re also likely to be juggling an even
greater variety of tasks, from managing
sta, to dealing with taxes, and pitching
for business. To stay on top of everything
without getting overwhelmed, follow
a plan for each day. Start on time, be
strict about taking breaks, and work
through a realistic to-do list in priority
order. Set a time frame for each item,
and record everything you achieve as
you go to monitor your progress.
When you run your own company, there’s no senior manager to turn to.
And in very small businesses, there are often no colleagues, either.
To manage yourself and your firm well, you need to stay organized,
create the right working environment, and know when to switch o.
If you’re still largely working
on paper, consider moving
things such as accountancy
and company documents
online. It saves on physical
storage and allows you to
access everything
wherever you are
USE YOUR FREEDOM
Run your own firm? Don’t forget
you’re your own boss. While
you want to succeed, you also
have more freedom to create
a healthy work-life balance
than an employee manager.
Tip
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RUNNING A BUSINESS / 27
Creating your work space
Whether you’re a freelancer with a laptop
or a hands-on maker with a workshop,
take time to create a suitable working
environment with all the tech and tools
(such as stationery) you need. Make sure
your work space looks and feels separate
to your home life, and make it comfortable,
even if it’s just a desk and chair in an alcove.
Opt for ergonomic equipment, make sure
you have enough light and heat, and keep
it tidy. Put something in your eyeline that
motivates you, such as a photo or inspiring
quote. As a manager/business owner, you
may also be responsible for the physical
welfare of sta working remotely, so
check your obligations.
You can save much-needed
energy by outsourcing certain
tasks. If there’s an activity that
isn’t best suited to your skills but
takes up a lot of time and eort,
it can be well worth paying
someone else to do it. Think
about getting help with:
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PR
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Marketing
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Social media management
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Payroll
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Answering customer calls
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Finding new business leads
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Processing orders
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Bookkeeping and accounting
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HR (if you employ others)
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Secretarial support
Outsourcing tasks
of remote workers report
new back pain after
starting to work from home
55%
TAX RETURN
SALES
PHONE BILL
HIRING
ACCOUNTING
MEETINGS
INVOICING
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