“Did you get the memo?” -Office Space

Today is a big day for Punkster and for me. I am sitting here typing this from my 10 by 10 open space on the floor of a co-op in Williamsburg Brooklyn New York. That’s right, I got an office space. And for anyone who has their own small business, this is a big deal!

I can’t believe it, really can’t believe it.

I have been working from home for a year and a half now I think. Everyday I would get up and do my morning commute to my office, which involved getting out of bed, starting the hot water for tea and heading to the family room. We had a pajama casual dress code in my office. Even, sadly enough, when interns would come help out.

The money I saved on gas and the time I saved on not picking out what to wear for work, let alone the rush hour, really added up. I would sit there at my desk and work all day until my roommate would come home from the office and that was when I knew it was quittin’ time.

The thing is, I was like the dog you leave at home all day while you are off to work, I was like the devoted little buster waiting for someone to come home and entertain me. So when my roommate would roll in, tired from work and tired of talking, I would just be getting started. I would just sit there and wait for any kind of human contact from the outside world.

“How was work, what’s new, well, at least tell me what the weather is like outside . . ..”

Working from home is a luxury item in life, a thing you always want, but then once you get it you think, “now what . . ..”

Did you know people get seriously depressed from working from home? I have heard about it a lot, and I can see it happening so easily. Human contact and interaction is important to your soul, no matter how annoying that guy is across the cubicle that won’t stop coughing.

I could feel myself missing something because I was working from home. I missed inspiration from others; people to throw ideas around with, someone to eat my afternoon survival snack with. I also noticed I was eating a lot more. But that might just be me.

There are perks, don’t get me wrong. I worked all day with a dog sitting on my lap, I slept when I needed to, I was home for packages to be delivered, and I didn’t have to get in the car for weeks on end. But there comes a time in every small business’ life, hopefully, that you are growing and you want to continue to grow, and by jove, you need an office space.

So I did it, I bit the bullet, and now each day I can walk to my co-op office space, the “Grand Artisan Space” and sit down at my desk and get to work. This way, I know when I'm at work and I know when I’m home. You see, that is a hard boundary to keep when you are working five feet from your bed, or your TV, or your refrigerator.

But as of today, I vow to return my calls promptly, be proactive instead of reactive, devote Mondays to press and Tuesdays to customer service and Wednesdays to design, you see, I plan on making this space pay for itself, I plan on working like I would at an office, I plan on getting up and heading to “work” and making things happen that didn’t happen in my family room.

Taking steps in the right direction, I’d say.

My first office! It’s like my first day at school, my first car, and my first time at camp! It’s a big deal. We even have a water cooler to gather around.

So far, so good.
Leanne

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[Alycia]

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