So.. Many people claim they quit and started their online empire on their own. Some lie, some not - I know I did it (well it ain't an empire yet). Now, I thought this is the best job in the world.. But I noticed that one element of a J.O.B is missing to me. The social environment... That was something strong where I was for a few years and lacking ATM.. Social environment constructed of forums, facebook, webinars, and email is not a social environment. Anyone felt this before? I am relating to older people > 25 yo. Cheers.
I can completely relate and understand what you're saying. Although I do get out quite a bit because I do my own selling and I interact a lot with my customers in person and on the phone, I do miss the social environment of working in a place with other colleagues. I have freelancers that come in to work for me on occasion but for the most part, I'm on my own, working from home. Don't get me wrong, I love being able to spend more time with my family but it's not really social interaction. I miss the camaraderie of working in an office environment. Going to lunch, sharing a few laughs, watching the girls go by. Lately I’ve been trying to work more from the local Starbucks or café just to get out of the house. I’m hoping to eventually get into a shared office suite so I can interact more with entrepreneurs like myself.
I agree completely - the only downside to working in IM fulltime is the lack of banter you get in a workplace. I don't miss it so much that I'd be prepared to consider commuting to a job ever again, but I do miss it. The trick that works for me is to make sure you've got plenty going on outside of the core working hours - I play sports and travel alot so when it's time to come off the laptop I have something to actually do and people to do it with, it's the only thing that keeps you sane. Bottom line, get social hobbies - lots of em.
I did that for a while.. First it was the library and then it was coffee shops.. I found that it was impossible to concentrate in these places.. It has no "office effect". It can be a nice 2H out but not more (well, to me ). Social life is cool when not in working hours, but the things in between is what I relate to.. I do think working from home / for yourself is fantastic.. But just now when I analyze a year back I can see the negative sides. I remember a few years ago when I met one of my affiliates in a conference (I was a project manager in a company), he told me that although this is a great job.. it can get you a bit "socially disordered"... (he was cynical, but these were the exact words.. you know....).
I go bat shit crazy all day working from home, fo sho. So far my solution is after waking up and checking emails etc, is to go walk to the beach and swim and shoot the shit with the people down there. Then walk back and work for a bit and then leave the house again to go to the gym/crossfit. Bus/Walk back to the house and finish up the workday, by that time my roomate has gotten home or I go to korean corner place for steak or hit the karaoke for cuba libre. Basically cut up your workday in a few chunks and go do something active! Definitely take advantage of not being chained to your desk slowing getting fat sitting in a chair waiting for slow death, surrounded by cubicle walls, so bored to death from listening to Jim from Accounting talk on and on about his ugly wife, meanwhile thinking about how she thinks when washing dishes, drinking wine at 9:15am and touching herself that someone would give it to her hard, like a real man, the man that Jim isn't, but alas she is a butterface, but yeah, you'd still hit it. In closing, my friends have noticed my bat shit craziness from the lack of human interaction lol...
renting a shared office suite is a good idea. you get the best of both worlds. working for yourself and still having some office interaction with other people. i agree with the socially disordered thing though.
I've tried doing online jobs for awhile and got that same feeling too. It's really different if you mingle with "real" people rather than the cyber crowd. I'm starting up a little business now and go out more often as before to meet clients and all but surprisingly, I do sometimes miss doing online work, it's good to be relaxed and work at the same time. Maybe I'll consider it again when I get married and have children to take care of. Who knows...
I agree with angelas, but still I miss my friends and chat we had when I was working in a office. Now I have my own office, making good money then I worked for others. But by interacting with my employees, I am compensating my oldies memories.
Completely.. to me personally it ain't possible because I pay for my own house ATM and the rental for these suits (at least where I am), is over the top That's great if you have the option and resources. PS - not looking for solutions or answers (though there are good inputs here).. Just wanted to see if others also had this crossing their mind.
Yep, exactly the same, especially because I am in Europe and most of my business is in US and AU so, when ever my friends come back from their job, I am just starting to work lol
It's one of the toughest elements when doing IM long term and fulltime. The key for me was getting to a point where once I had my campaigns semi-automated enough to break up my day and call friends, go riding with riding buddies etc etc. To me it's as important or more so than taking breaks to workout and get blood flowing again after long sessions in front of the PC. Getting out and being social is so important and also helps to exercise your brain away from crunching data and stats.
That's very true. The lifestyle is 10 times more important than everything else (assuming you make ends meet). I don't relate to being on the beach all day like the so called "gurus" say they do; but having at-least the same amount of satisfaction in your life as if you had a really good job position that also gave you time to live your hobbies. Sometimes I personally feel like the responsibility (much greater than working in an office), is sucking me out of exactly that. (SOMETIMES). These are the days when the social thing start ringing. There has to be a process; a routine. And this is also one of the things that are problematic when you do this by yourslef. You must be 100% organized and combine social interactions. This isn't easy and it requires planning ahead. (self discipline).
Gonna start working from home Jan 1st 2011. Have thought about the social aspect and plan to exercise and train my sons soccer team and maybe help out at his school to be around people. Maybe i'll start a thread about how i am doing
i left my job and im doing money online but it took me a bit of time, i was making mone yand still working. was not easy to drop the job. not because of money but i justl ike people and i dont like sitting home that much.
