Sleep longer, no longer get stuck in commuter traffic, nobody complains about you and can finally regulate the room temperature all by yourself – working in the home office sounds like (work) paradise. What sounds good at first doesn’t always have to work just as well. Some achieve a lot more when working from home than in the office, but there are also pitfalls. That is why we have put together 10 useful tips for the home office, so that you too can fulfill your work-life balance dream.

Get out of your pajamas

And by that we don’t mean that you should sit naked at the PC. Aside from the fact that you shouldn’t wear your pajamas all day long, changing clothes can also help your productivity. Even if you don’t have to go out to work, you should still do so. That means putting on clothes that signal “I’m working now”. In return, the jogging pants can be a sign of relaxation after work. With appropriate clothing, you can also create a routine that can be lost if you spend the whole day at home.

Get off the couch

Speaking of routine: A designated place for work can also help bring clarity to the daily routine. The bed is there for sleeping and the sofa for relaxing, and therefore both are completely unsuitable for productive work. Just as you leave the office in the evening, you should also turn your back on work at home after work. You don’t need an office in your own house for this: a desk that is only there for work and where you can leave your belongings is enough. The main thing is that you separate work and free time at home, because on the one hand you are less tempted to check your e-mails one last time after work or on the other hand to be distracted by the television or the pile of dirty laundry.

Order

Work- uh .. Order is half the battle , and of course that also applies to the home office. If you keep seeing the mountain of dirty laundry mentioned above out of the corner of your eye, it will inevitably distract you. As our study on procrastination found, people particularly like to postpone unpleasant tasks and 17% prefer to clean their desks instead of getting the task over with. If your desk is tidy from the start, you have one less factor that distracts you from your work.

Fixed working hours

Another point in terms of routine is, if possible, to work at the same times as usual or as colleagues in the office. Of course, that depends on your reasons for working from home. But just like you probably have dinner at the same time every day, fixed working hours help to define when you have to work and when not, and to prepare you internally. If you are working on a project with others, it is best to let your colleagues know when you are working and when you will no longer be available. Don’t forget to take a lunch break in the home office and do other relaxing things.

Division of work & communication

Divide up your tasks and set deadlines if you don’t get them from your boss anyway. A (probably not entirely unjustified) prejudice is that “working in the home office” is often equated with “chilling on the couch”. Even if nobody can look over your shoulder at home and nobody checks that you are actually working, you remain accountable with agreed deadlines. Precisely because the home office has this association, a binding work schedule helps to show the superiors that you do your work like your colleagues in the office. Especially if you work from home more often or generally, it is important that you stay in contact with your colleagues and superiors. Team chat software can help, as well as documents that can be edited together in a cloud.

Coworking Spaces

Working in your own four walls is stupid, but working in the office is also not an option? Then try a coworking space. This gives you the feeling of going to the office and you don’t have to be at home alone all day. Often there are different jobs in such facilities, depending on whether you work better with people around you or in complete silence. There are also cafes there for a successful lunch break.

The business world is changing. Sentences like “people buy from people, not from brands” are becoming increasingly important for consumers. That’s why brands need to change their sales and marketing tactics. It’s time to replace the old with the new, check out the approach on the website – https://monstratext.com/professional-essay-writing-service. Today’s consumers want more than just a service or a product. They want a solution to their problems, a an essay writing company, they can trust – and most importantly, consumers want a company that is in line with their values.

The digital revolution has changed people’s buying behavior and gives them the opportunity to find out about a brand in advance. That is why it is important that your company gain this trust from the start if you want to sell successfully. This is where Personal Branding comes into play.

What is personal branding?

No matter who you are – business owner or seller – you need to represent your brand. Personal branding gives you the tools to do this by using a variety of different platforms and showing consumers why you are different, what you can do for customers, and what makes you special. It helps you differentiate yourself from your competition and shows customers why you are the person or company they should choose.

Where should my personal branding journey begin?

When, like so many others, you are used to brands being companies, that mindset can be a little tricky at first. However, with a bit of open-mindedness and creativity, it won’t be long before you are ready to embark on your personal branding journey.

First, you need to determine who your customers are and what their needs are. This is very important, because there is no point in telling your potential customers how much you like meat, e.g. live vegan.

Once you’ve established your target audience, you need to align your platform with where your customers can be found online. If your target audience is more female than male, then Pinterest might be your best bet.

Personal branding shouldn’t be a hidden sales pitch!

Just to show how important this is, we’ll note it again: Personal branding is actually not a sales pitch. Personal branding is all about building trust and showing how your views align with those of your customers. People need to be able to identify with the content you share. Show how you do good, share personal achievements, praise your team and present your company in the best light.

You have to show your personality and, most importantly, be human. And don’t forget to be social. Networking and helping other people is one of the best ways to get noticed for the right reasons. Don’t be afraid to partner with other companies – it’s a win-win as you get twice the exposure. Also, the more you communicate, the more people know your name and the more likely you will buy from you.

As you can see, strong personal branding is worth it. Not only does it help you get known as a person, it also helps your business increase ROI. So define your audience, find out where you are perceived, create value, don’t sell yourself – and above all, have fun with it and let your personality shine through!

Entrepreneurs who want to sell their products on Amazon & Co. need a European Article Number (EAN). The 13-digit code, also known as a bar code, is used to identify the supplier and to identify the item internally. Mirko Sander is the founder of Barcode Germany. At the start-up based in the artist community Röhrsdorf in Saxony, customers can easily buy EAN numbers online and use them immediately.

Viking: How would you describe your career in three sentences?

More like continuous evolution than planned development. I started my career in the non-profit sector and then worked in various management positions in the private sector. At some point the opportunity arose to become my own boss. The previous stations prepared me for it.

Viking: How did the idea of ​​founding Barcode Germany come about?

With the birth of our two daughters, it was clear to me and my wife that I wanted to spend more time at home and have more flexibility to be there for my children. A friend from New Zealand forwarded an e-mail to me, after which the international administration of EAN numbers located there was looking for a sales partner in Germany. At first I was very skeptical and thought that this was the kind of scam sometimes sent by alleged Nigerian princes. But then I looked into it and saw that there really was a niche in the market because the other providers of EAN numbers are mostly based abroad and have little knowledge of German-speaking customers. They want to know everything exactly before they buy something and have many questions. That is why we at Barcode Germany rely heavily on good customer service and advice before and after the purchase. It has never been my dream to sell barcodes one day, but I gave in and I can feed my family and even hire two employees. The good thing is that I can run the online shop from anywhere. That’s why we moved from Hamburg two years ago and now live with friends and families in an old castle in Röhrsdorf.

Viking: What obstacles did you have to overcome?

My wife and I decided at the beginning that the company should be financially separate from the family, so that we are only liable with the company’s assets in case something goes wrong. That is why we have founded a limited liability company (UG). The main obstacle was getting all the necessary information. Back then these were not as easily available as they are today. With what I know today, I could found a UG in a few minutes.

Viking: What has been the greatest success of your career so far?

The greatest success for me so far is that I don’t have to worry about day-to-day business because the process of online orders, delivery of EAN codes and invoicing is largely automated. So I can organize my time flexibly and do volunteer work as well as for new projects. We have a lot to do with company founders who are just starting to sell their products on Amazon or eBay. It is nice to see how these founders also succeed with the help of our advice. An elderly lady who lives in Scotland can use an EAN number to place her souvenirs and gifts in retail stores. We wrote some of these success stories on our blog.

Viking: What is your favorite office item that you couldn’t do without?

I use the usual archiving systems and follow the sorting systems that are tried and tested. When it comes to office supplies, I invest in quality, whether it’s a hole punch or a printer. In the beginning I had a cheap printer and it only cost me time.

Viking: Who is your business model and why?

Steve Jobs – even if that is not particularly original. But he managed to make products not only useful, but also beautiful. I find his perfectionism inspiring.

Viking: How do you switch off after a working day?

I walk through the door of my home office, and I am with my family.

Viking: What advice would you give someone who wants to start their own business with an idea?

Just get started. In Germany nobody has to live on the street when a business goes bankrupt, there is a social network, so you can trust yourself. I also recommend that you rely on good customer service right from the start. There are cheaper providers than us, but the customers stay loyal to us because they know they can always call us.

Viking: What future plans are there?

We want to expand into Switzerland soon, after we are already successfully represented in Austria, with Austrian customer service. And there’s a new business idea: I started brewing beer some time ago. We are currently in the process of setting up a small brewery in the castle and want to hire people who would otherwise not find a job so easily. Everyone can learn to brew beer. In addition, the town’s only brewery closed during the GDR era, and we want to revive this tradition.

Viking: Thank you for the interview.

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