Comments on: Working from home http://kohari.org/2008/10/10/working-from-home/ Rambling and occasional wisdom from Nate Kohari Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:47:18 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Josh Berke http://kohari.org/2008/10/10/working-from-home/comment-page-1/#comment-216 Josh Berke Fri, 17 Oct 2008 05:14:22 +0000 http://kohari.org/?p=134#comment-216 I've been telecommuting since 2/08, and let me tell you. I don't miss driving in any of the Ohio winters any more. When we had a foot and a half of snow, I sat back in my pajamas and laughed as I read email after email about my old co-workers complaining about having to shovel their driveways. The biggest downside for me has been the lack of people to leech ideas off. This is compunded by the fact that I am only developer. My 2 year old son is just learning his numbers, let alone what abstraction, or coupling is. I dread the day when my company grows and I'm forced to make the hour commute to work, although by then it will only be a couple of days of a week. You did it nail the number one best thing about staying at home, I missed the first year of my sons life spending two hours a day in my car. Now I'm able to join my wife and our one year old daughter to their gym class. Josh I’ve been telecommuting since 2/08, and let me tell you. I don’t miss driving in any of the Ohio winters any more. When we had a foot and a half of snow, I sat back in my pajamas and laughed as I read email after email about my old co-workers complaining about having to shovel their driveways.

The biggest downside for me has been the lack of people to leech ideas off. This is compunded by the fact that I am only developer. My 2 year old son is just learning his numbers, let alone what abstraction, or coupling is.

I dread the day when my company grows and I’m forced to make the hour commute to work, although by then it will only be a couple of days of a week.

You did it nail the number one best thing about staying at home, I missed the first year of my sons life spending two hours a day in my car. Now I’m able to join my wife and our one year old daughter to their gym class.

Josh

]]> By: Ken Robertson http://kohari.org/2008/10/10/working-from-home/comment-page-1/#comment-215 Ken Robertson Sat, 11 Oct 2008 05:51:28 +0000 http://kohari.org/?p=134#comment-215 Sounds like you're getting used to it pretty quick! Some people say it is good to get up and ready to help get you in the mindset for working, but I've found it is best just to find your own rhythm. Me? I like to get up, see my wife and son off in the morning, watch some news and eat breakfast, then head into the office. One thing I've found recently that helps a lot is to close email when you're done for the day, and avoid looking at it as much as possible until you start the next day. That really helps me avoid being sucked back into work, and stay on task a little more during the day. Also plan out goals for the day, such as tackling 4 tickets or whatever. That way, when the end of the day is coming around, it might help get yourself in gear to close those out. Sounds like you’re getting used to it pretty quick!

Some people say it is good to get up and ready to help get you in the mindset for working, but I’ve found it is best just to find your own rhythm. Me? I like to get up, see my wife and son off in the morning, watch some news and eat breakfast, then head into the office.

One thing I’ve found recently that helps a lot is to close email when you’re done for the day, and avoid looking at it as much as possible until you start the next day. That really helps me avoid being sucked back into work, and stay on task a little more during the day.

Also plan out goals for the day, such as tackling 4 tickets or whatever. That way, when the end of the day is coming around, it might help get yourself in gear to close those out.

]]> By: Detlef D. Doerscheln http://kohari.org/2008/10/10/working-from-home/comment-page-1/#comment-214 Detlef D. Doerscheln Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:50:55 +0000 http://kohari.org/?p=134#comment-214 From day one of working at home in 1992 it was clear to me that it needs some kind of discipline to draw the line between being at work or being home. Right from the beginning I set up a time for me when I have to "arrive" at the office. Like you, I always had some pet projects going and it is difficult to actually get out of the office to "go home". Till the end of 2004 I was employed at a software company which is located about 400 miles from where I live. We communicated mostly via the phone and had regular meetings. At the beginning I was going to the company's place because they rented a flat where I could stay during the time I was there. In the end it turned out that my co-workers rather come to my place to escape the daily office routine. Now that I am self employed not much has changed for me. I arrive usually earlier in the office though and stay longer. I am lucky when it comes to the clients I am working with. With all of them I have more of a team connection and not the usual work for hire relationship. It is a bit juggling to keep working on pet projects, my own product and doing consulting work but I have never regretted to make this move. From day one of working at home in 1992 it was clear to me that it needs some kind of discipline to draw the line between being at work or being home. Right from the beginning I set up a time for me when I have to “arrive” at the office. Like you, I always had some pet projects going and it is difficult to actually get out of the office to “go home”. Till the end of 2004 I was employed at a software company which is located about 400 miles from where I live. We communicated mostly via the phone and had regular meetings. At the beginning I was going to the company’s place because they rented a flat where I could stay during the time I was there. In the end it turned out that my co-workers rather come to my place to escape the daily office routine. Now that I am self employed not much has changed for me. I arrive usually earlier in the office though and stay longer. I am lucky when it comes to the clients I am working with. With all of them I have more of a team connection and not the usual work for hire relationship. It is a bit juggling to keep working on pet projects, my own product and doing consulting work but I have never regretted to make this move.

]]> By: Joey Beninghove http://kohari.org/2008/10/10/working-from-home/comment-page-1/#comment-213 Joey Beninghove Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:22:23 +0000 http://kohari.org/?p=134#comment-213 I'll 2nd Jimmy's comment. I've been working from home now for a little over 6 months and getting up like a "real" job definitely helps. And yeah, on the working too much thing. That one is always a struggle for me as well. But I think I've found some decent lines there. You'll get better at that. The other thing I'd recommend is getting out of the house for lunch with some local dev friends once or twice a week. It's definitely helped me to get some face time with other folks so you don't become married to twitter. :) Happy Coding! I’ll 2nd Jimmy’s comment. I’ve been working from home now for a little over 6 months and getting up like a “real” job definitely helps. And yeah, on the working too much thing. That one is always a struggle for me as well. But I think I’ve found some decent lines there. You’ll get better at that.

The other thing I’d recommend is getting out of the house for lunch with some local dev friends once or twice a week. It’s definitely helped me to get some face time with other folks so you don’t become married to twitter. :)

Happy Coding!

]]> By: Leon http://kohari.org/2008/10/10/working-from-home/comment-page-1/#comment-212 Leon Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:20:00 +0000 http://kohari.org/?p=134#comment-212 nah, I just get my coke, my cereal bar and put my tunes on. clothes? Shower? optional. :) nah, I just get my coke, my cereal bar and put my tunes on. clothes? Shower? optional. :)

]]> By: Nate Kohari http://kohari.org/2008/10/10/working-from-home/comment-page-1/#comment-211 Nate Kohari Sat, 11 Oct 2008 03:27:33 +0000 http://kohari.org/?p=134#comment-211 Yeah, I've never been the type to lay around in pajamas all day. I can't feel productive without getting up and getting dressed. Plus my wife would probably kill me. :) Yeah, I’ve never been the type to lay around in pajamas all day. I can’t feel productive without getting up and getting dressed. Plus my wife would probably kill me. :)

]]> By: Jimmy Bogard http://kohari.org/2008/10/10/working-from-home/comment-page-1/#comment-210 Jimmy Bogard Sat, 11 Oct 2008 03:23:28 +0000 http://kohari.org/?p=134#comment-210 One trick (mindset-wise) is to actually get dressed and get ready for work. I don't know what it is, but I've never been productive in pajamas. Although I seem to knock out more GTAIV missions that way... One trick (mindset-wise) is to actually get dressed and get ready for work. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve never been productive in pajamas. Although I seem to knock out more GTAIV missions that way…

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