Cover image for The virtual office survival handbook : what telecommuters and entrepreneurs need to succeed in today's nontraditional workplace
Title:
The virtual office survival handbook : what telecommuters and entrepreneurs need to succeed in today's nontraditional workplace
Personal Author:
Publication Information:
New York : John Wiley, 1996
ISBN:
9780471120599

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30000005037142 HD2333 B73 1996 Reference Book Advance Management
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Summary

Summary

Whether you're working at home, on the road, or in any othernontraditional work arrangement, here's what you'll need to set up,survive, and thrive in the virtual office. Alice Bredin, theleading authority on the virtual office, gives you expert adviceon:
* Getting there--choosing the right business idea, negotiating fortelecommuting, and selling your family on your new workstyle
* Organizing yourself--structuring your environment, setting up avirtual office in your home or car, dealing with a satellite officesituation, choosing and finding the best technology
* Maintaining your virtual office--staying in the loop when you'renot in an office, keeping in touch when you're on the road,generating business, finding free publicity, adopting the habits ofhighly successful virtual office workers, maintaining contact withthe office or customers, communicating effectively via technology
* Surviving--creating and maintaining work/life balance, working athome with kids, avoiding overwork, making sure your accomplishmentsare recognized, learning to take vacations, staying away from thefridge, being a good boss to yourself

Whether you are contemplating this new work arrangement, activelyin transition, or firmly entrenched in this workplace revolution,this comprehensive guide is your key to success in your new workingenvironment.


Author Notes

ALICE BREDIN writes the nationally syndicated column "Working AtHome" and broadcasts her home-office and virtual-office advice onpublic radio's Marketplace program. Bredin's popular onlineforums--The ExpressNet Small Business Forum and The Home Business& Telecommuting Forum--can be found on America Online and theMicrosoft Network. Her home-based business, WorkAnywhere, Inc.,conducts research and advises companies who provide products andservices to the small business, home-office, or telecommutingmarket. Ms. Bredin lives in New York City.


Reviews 3

Publisher's Weekly Review

Bredin, who writes the syndicated newspaper column "Working at Home," offers a step-by-step guide to setting up a home office or a virtual office. With an estimated 40% of all U.S. employees expected to work in nontraditional offices by the year 2000, even the cubicle-bound might want to know about these new arrangements and how to make them work best for employers as well as workers. A major reason for resisting these novel work settings is the difficulty of effective interaction between employees and their colleagues or supervisors. Bredin starts by describing the professions and industries most suited to virtual or home offices and the employee personality and temperament that will thrive in the situation. Then she offers first-rate nitty-gritty advice on setting up an office, from choosing computer systems, legal and tax requirements for home business, time management and more. Especially helpful are her strategies for coping with real life-handling rejection, managing child-care crises, keeping up with office gossip and how to avoid nonstop eating. This is an excellent guide for freelancers, small business owners and employees of large corporations who want a flexible work situation. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved


Booklist Review

Home-based work has never looked so promising to so many Americans, whether they be corporate employees or bona fide entrepreneurs. To forestall all the myths, journalist Bredin dutifully tells the truths about the virtual office, beginning with a readiness survey and concluding with notes about security and fraud protection. In between is a lot of helpful advice, some of which is clearly repetitive (e.g., that on computers and other technological "must haves" ), but most of which adds value to existing literature. Consider, for instance, her thoughts on child care and working with a spouse; or ruminate on her words about coworker resentment (for telecommuters), rejection, and isolation. Throughout all the hints and tips, resources and checklists in separate, boxed sidebars. --Barbara Jacobs


Library Journal Review

Working from home is like the legendary curse: may you get what you wish for. Bredin, who is a commentator for National Public Radio's "Marketplace" and manages two online forums for home-office users, addresses the pitfalls of working at home for either the telecommuter or home-based businessperson. She addresses distractions, isolation, and time management as well as the not-so-obvious headaches like technology support and types of office equipment. Bredin knows the territory and offers assistance on a wide range of concerns from zoning and taxes to when to take a nap. She offers self-assessment tools and problem-solving checklists for coping with whatever challenges might arise. Considering the growth in home offices, this is an essential purchase for libraries. Highly recommended.‘Joshua Cohen, Mid-Hudson Lib. System, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.


Table of Contents

The Evolution Of The Virtual Office
What Is a Virtual Office?
Is the Virtual Office Right for You?: Assessing Your Skills and Work Habits
Becoming Part Of The Virtual Office
Working for a Corporation
Working for Yourself: Evaluating the Options
Managing Your Family and Other Personal Relationships
Setting Up Your Virtual Office
Customizing Your Workplace for Efficiency and Comfort
Nuts and Bolts
Life In The Virtual Office
Structuring Your Unstructured Work Environment
Maintaining Visibility
Communicating Effectively Through Technology
Resources
Index