home office

Bringing International Women’s Day to My Office

Today is International Women’s Day and it’s a perfect time to show off my new office décor. It’s a print of the Hillside Club by David Lance Goines and, while I love all his work, I’m particularly fond of this piece because of what it represents. On top of that, when I ordered the print, I also received Hillside Club notecards—lagniappe at its best!

Hillside Club poster by David Lance Goines

The Hillside Club was formed in 1898 by three tea-sipping ladies from Berkely, California, who wanted to protect the area hillside from unscrupulous developers. Decades later in the 1960s, a new generation of Hillside Club ladies rallied to save the San Francisco Bay from developers who were filling it in for urban expansion. Today this region’s beauty reflects The Hillside Club’s success and the great things that happen when women get together.

These days we’re hearing a lot about the force of womanhood and how long-awaited issues are finally being addressed. We’re inspired by the many famous ladies who put themselves out there for the betterment of the others. But today, on International Women’s Day, let’s not forget the lesser known but equally important gatherings of women whose “getting things done” are motivation for the rest of us.

Like the Hillside Club.

40 Meaningless Things to Give Up for Lent

My plan for Lent: 40 bags in 40 days

Wednesday begins the season of Lent, those penitential 40 days leading to Easter when we’re reminded of what Jesus sacrificed for us. Often we attempt to do something in return, like self-denials of chocolate and wine. But really, how do these even compare? As The Plain Dealer columnist Regina Brett says, “Lent doesn’t have to be 40 days of flogging. Why not give up something or embrace something more meaningful or lasting, something that will make your life or someone else’s better?”

With that thought in mind, I decided to do the 40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge. I’ve got lots of stuff accumulating in this big ol’ farmhouse, stuff that holds no meaning to me but probably does to someone else. Eliminating the meaningless is meaningful, don’t you think?

Here’s my Lenten plan: Each day I’m going to spend 15 minutes decluttering my computer files (including photos—ugh) and I’m going to pack up one bag of household stuff. Then, since bagging isn’t the problem but getting rid of them is, once a week I’m going force myself to deliver a load to our nearest resale shop.

Hmm, is this an online cry for accountability?

This isn’t going to be a flogging. But I admit it could be an arduous 40 days.

Then and Now: 10 Years of Self Employment

Adunate Then and Now

Whoosh! How does ten years go by so fast? Scary fast.

A decade ago at this time I was losing interest in my day job, scouring want ads for something new and freelancing on the side. The something new never materialized but the side gigs multiplied. Thus began my adventure as a solo entrepreneur and my Adunate business. Ten years later, I’m still at it and celebrating a monumental anniversary. I am amazed. And very blessed!

So what’s been happening these past ten years? What was Adunate like then compared to now?

Technology

Remember Pagemaker? That was me ten years ago. I intentionally lag behind with technology updates but even so, back then my setup was decrepitly prehistoric. For my first 5-6 months, I used our family computer, a laborious Dell with a lunchbox-sized monitor. Before the year’s end, I celebrated self-employment with my first major purchases—an Apple Power Mac G5 with a 20-inch flat cinema display, Adobe Creative Suite 2, and Quickbooks for Mac 2006. These were huge investments for me. Huge!

Back then I had a cordless telephone with caller ID and answering machine, for which I paid extra usage fees each month. I also had a snazzy printer/fax machine. Receiving my first fax was terribly exciting, like, wow, I really am a business! Over the years I may have received ten faxes, at most, and when that cheapo machine broke, I replaced it with a simple desktop printer. Fax? Landline phone? Who clutters their desk with these anymore?

Nowadays I use an iMac with a 27-inch display, together with my old 20-incher because two displays are simply divine. I also use a 13-inch MacBook Pro. Sometimes I add an iPad or my iPhone. Seriously, there are times when I’m coding a responsive website and I surround myself with all of the above. At the same time. Technology is crazy!

My Office

My home office hasn’t changed much. To get me started, my wonder-woodworking husband crafted a large, L-shaped desk and built-in bookcases in a room all my own. It’s the dreamiest office ever and ten years later I still love it to pieces. I’ll have to give an online tour one of these days (after I refresh it with a needed coat of paint).

What has changed is where I work every day. Ten years ago the idea of office mobility was just beginning to emerge, but because I only had a desktop computer all my creative work was confined to my home office. As nice as it is, working from home can be isolating, especially if you live in a rural area as I do. Nowadays, I regularly head to Madison or Milwaukee and do a creative work day in highly public places. My office is extended to libraries, coffee shops, on the road…anywhere I can take my laptop. Talk about freedom—I adore this bohemian style of working!

Business Management

Oh boy, where do I start with this one? Nothing has changed infinitely more in ten years than the way we do business, solely because of what’s developed on the internet. Ten years ago I paid $288 annually for the most minuscule, ineffective Yellow Pages ad. I updated my skills at tech schools and networked at industry events, all of which were no less than 40-miles away and very expensive. Back then I wasn’t on Facebook or LinkedIn. Twitter was a sound birds make. Pinterest wasn’t even a word.

Nowadays I successfully market myself on a variety of social media. From my office. For free. Yes, there’s the cost of time, but since I love this part of my job I don’t really consider it a factor. The online network with whom I’ve connected is invaluable and the accessibility to knowledge is limitless.

We also have a host of online tools that we didn’t have ten years ago. Self-employment has become a work revolution and services like Skype, Evernote, Dropbox and a bounteous more are started every day to make managing a business easier and cheaper.

From Business to Lifestyle

Ten years ago I wanted to work from home. I wanted to create things of value and use my God-given skills to help others. And, of course, I wanted to make some money. I’ve accomplished all these goals.

Interestingly, my bar for success is somewhat different than it was a decade ago. Back then, my 10-year goals were to be making more money than I am now. I dreamed of a clientele with an impressive profile. I even toyed with the idea of becoming an agency with several employees. Now I know that’s not what I want at all.

Here’s why, at 10 years, I consider Adunate successful:

Each day I’m excited to get up and go to work. I have awesome clients who are cherished friends. My work and off-work hours have become harmoniously entwined for a more healthy and self-sufficient lifestyle, including regular exercise and raising organic food. Best of all, the flexibility of self-employment allows me to take a day off with my husband, have lunch with my kids, or babysit my granddaughter. I say, it can’t get better than this.

God has blessed me greatly with undeserved grace!

No Pain, No Gain Doesn’t Apply to Desk Chairs

Office
Last year around this time I pulled something in my back. Technically, it was a herniated disc, which then pinched a femoral nerve down the front of my leg. Normally I wouldn’t know such anotomical terms except it hurt so much I broke down and went to a doctor. What a drag.

I’ve gotta admit I’m a wimp for anything medical. Determined that this should never happen again, I got right on the ball with preventative measures (yes, pun intended, as my photo above shows). My goal: better posture, more exercise and strengthening my back (I do believe they refer to this whole area as core strength, of which, after four kids and too much desk-time, I have none).

I also started researching desk chairs.

Exercise Ball

My first experiment was using my exercise ball as a desk chair. Initially it was fun. I put on some music and started jive-bouncin’ away. I was like—hey, I’m exercising my back while I’m working! I can do two things at once! Then, because coordination isn’t one of my inherent traits, I literally rolled onto the floor. When I did manage to stay upright, I noticed I was subconsciously stabilizing the ball with my feet and arching too far forward with my torso.

The ball was out.

Swopper

Ergonomic Chairs

I then researched brand names for their innovative furniture. Gaiam: Not too expensive. Swopper: More expensive. Herman Miller’s Aeron Chair: Way too expensive.

The Swopper was most intriguing. I liked the idea of training muscles and my moving joints, and when I tried one at Century House I really liked it. It’s comfortable, stable and, yes, I really, really like it. But wow, $699 is a lot of money for a chair. And besides, what if sometimes I actually want to sit back and relax?

The Swopper was delegated to my “maybe someday, when I have more money” list.

Disc

Voilà. The Balance Disc

Enter the balance disc, a.k.a sitting disc or exercise disc. Last month, for less than $50, I bought Dynatronic’s 15″ inflatable cushion with a smooth sitting surface on one side and a textured foot massage on the other. It combines the core workout of an exercise ball or Swopper with the continued use of my well-worn and comfortable chair. What’s really nice is when I need a break from such active sitting, I just throw it on the floor and work without it.

So far, I love it!

Speaking of chairs, today AIGA is officially celebrating a century of design. There are exciting design events in the months ahead, including Facing Forward, an AIGA National Design Center exhibit in New York City featuring member-designed Windsor chairs. I’m looking forward to seeing them!

What Is It, National Productivity Week?

light coming through barn roof
Lately everyone seems to be talking about productivity. Like how to stay productive. Or why getting up early improves productivity. Or how we schedule our days.

If I’m going to write about productivity, I have to show a picture of our barn. Here it is a few years ago during mid-shingling. My husband, who’s the most productive person I know, would normally do a job like this himself but that summer he was super busy. Plus I really didn’t want him crawling around on such a pitch, on a 2-story barn, with a concrete cow yard to catch him if he fell. Instead, we hired a roofing crew. For two days, they were the most productive people I knew.

Doesn’t our barn look cool with the light shining through?

When it comes to organized productivity, I could easily find room for improvement. I love keeping to-do lists and checking off completed items, but I’m also easily distracted. Sometimes I find it hard to focus. Or it’s hard to prioritize my projects. We all have this problem from time to time, right?

A lot of people are saying good things about Ed Gandia’s upcoming 3-part class: “Effortless Productivity: How to Accomplish 30% More Every Day Naturally and With Less Stress.” It sounds interesting, but I’m not sure I want to spring the $97. Then I’m reminded of the adage of spending money to make money…am I being just a bit airy as I make up my mind?

I have until tomorrow to decide.

March Madness

MarchMadness

This was the scene today as I looked out my office window. As much as I love snow, I couldn’t help feeling a toasty glow of thankfulness that I can work without leaving my warm, cozy house.

Staying home brings to mind articles I’ve been reading on self-employment. Has anyone seen this study by MBO Partners? Their recent research shows that the independent workforce is going mainstream and within five years is expected to increase by another 23 million. Not only are more people feeling their moxie and working for themselves, they’re also finding greater satisfaction in doing so.

Or perhaps you’ve read this New York Times article, A World Without Work? Author Ross Douthat feels 21st-century American life is gradually taking on a utopian decline of working, although maybe not necessarily by choice. You can draw different conclusions from his theories, but perhaps the comments are most interesting. Many of them touch on a developing “gig society,” where people manage on multiple smaller jobs rather than one career (The Daily Beast calls it “gigonomics”).

Gigs by choice or circumstance, there’s one commonality that puts a freeze on freelancing—health insurance. Once again, I have reason to be thankful. My husband is securely employed in a job that provides these benefits (he works outdoors no less, so on days like today I’m really appreciative).

But what about those who don’t have the blessing of benefits?

As our economy shifts to an independent workforce, this issue is addressed more and more. This Forbes article talks about the cost of health insurance. The Freelancer’s Union is a non-profit advocating for a better entrepreneurial life. And this .gov link explains how insurance options will expand under the Affordable Care Act.

Stay warm folks!

Office Inspirations

Over the holidays I did a long-awaited overhaul of my office—cleaning, sorting, filing and painting. Unfortunately, I only got as far as painting the ceiling because I can’t decide on a color for the walls.

Indecision, of course, prompts perusing. And perusing, of course, furthers my indecision. My current obsession is Houzz.com. There are a gazillion professional quality photos with provided code for embedding them into your own blog. How’s that for sharing?

Here are some that caught my eye for various reasons (be sure to roll over the credits and check out these amazing designers and architects):

Eclectic Home Office design by Philadelphia Architect Krieger + Associates Architects Inc

My husband is the handiest guy and builds whatever my heart desires (no, I never take advantage of this). He built floor-to-ceiling cabinets and bookcases very similar to these for my office. I’m thinking a rolling ladder sure would be sweet.

“Oh, honey…”

Traditional Home Office design by Dallas Kitchen And Bath Brooke B. Sammons

The woodwork in my office is in it’s 96-year-old original shellacked finish—meaning it’s a rather orange-brown color. Yes, it limits my options for wall color, but I’d never dream of painting it.

Isn’t this office beautiful inspiration? (Believe me, mine doesn’t look anything it.)

Eclectic Home Office design by Other Metro Furniture And Accessories Horchow

I need to invest in a new desk chair. I love the red, but I can’t imagine spending a workday sitting in this one…

Modern Home Office design by San Francisco General Contractor Schmitt + Company

…or this one, although it does look rather groovy.

Contemporary Home Office design by Other Metro General Contractor Weaver Custom Homes

I love, love, love these doors on a track. They’re described as barn doors but they sure don’t look like any of the doors on my barn!

So which office is your favorite?

 

Wednesday Webs 3-28-12

coffee shop posters

I love being self-employed. And I love working from my home office. But I sometimes worry I’ll miss out on the full brainstorming experience, or develop creative complacency, or maybe even lose tolerance of people around me. I combat this by regularly working in coffee shops, where the ambience of people everywhere keeps me inspired. And look at this community announcement board—it’s sure cure for any creative block.

Other people must think about this too. Here are a few articles that discuss working alone.

Civil War event poster, Madison, WI