t’s Monday morning and yet the start of another work week.  I feed the animals, have my coffee with Matt Lauer (sans Katie Couric), and head upstairs to shower, all of which could be the typical morning activities for millions of working Americans. But this is where my day departs from what would be considered “typical” as I am one of the growing population of professional women who own their businesses and who work from home.  And, what a long, strange trip it has been.

The trip started after the birth of my daughter.  I was a stay-at-home Mom for three years and then decided to go back into the workforce.  I was hired as an editorial assistant at a local publishing company.  Ultimately, I spent 15 years with them and through various promotions became a content editor. 

A content editor works directly with authors to help them develop the content of their manuscripts to be both market ready and production ready.  The publisher dealt exclusively with textbooks ranging from high school through 4-year college curriculums and with subjects as varied as automotive training to nursing.  

The market-ready skills included seeking out instructors and professors who were knowledgeable within specific fields and having the manuscripts reviewed by them to see if they were viable candidates for salable texts.  I worked collaboratively within the company with both the marketing and the sales divisions to ensure new products were positioned correctly within a specific educational discipline.

We also looked for new trends in topics to include in books that were to be revised to ensure the books were current.  For example, after 9/11, all nursing, paramedic and EMS training, fire service, chemistry, biology, and medical assisting texts were updated to include bioterrorism, chemical weapons, and weapons of mass destruction content.

The production-ready skills included preparing the manuscript for typesetting.  This included specific grammatical editing, layout and design knowledge, art placement and procurement, and obtaining permissions from various sources for publication.  I worked with text designers, copyeditors, proofreaders, indexers, computer technicians, and production liaisons with compositor companies.  I felt many times as if I was an expert in everything and master of nothing.

One of the major benefits of working within a corporate environment is the many extra benefits offered.  My company offered tuition reimbursement, which allowed me the luxury of obtaining my Masters in Public Communication with the College of Saint Rose.  Granted, it took me five years of night classes, but it has proved to be part of this professional trip I never envisioned when I began. 

Obtaining the degree opened up yet another adventure and that was an opportunity to become part of an entrepreneurial business.  One of my colleagues created a niche business where she hired freelance editors to work with multiple textbook publishers.  We all work from our homes, are self-employed, and she acts as our broker or agent negotiating the contracts, taking her financial cut, and then we do the editing work.  Because many of the clients wish to work with only experienced and graduate-degreed editors, doors opened that I never knew existed.  I have now been in business for three years and have some wisdom to share with those of you contemplating possibly striking out on your own.

There are many advantages of a home business and I certainly do not take any of them for granted.

Dress: No suits, no dresses, no stockings, and I never worry about changing up my wardrobe to make sure I haven’t worn the same outfit twice over the last few weeks.  My work clothes consist of pajamas or sweats.

Office: My office is mainly my computer room, but I also work outside on my deck when the weather is sunny and by the fireplace in the winter on those snowy days when everyone else is commuting in ice and storm conditions.

Technology: A computer, phone, fax, and Shipmates.  That’s it.  Work is delivered either via email, US mail, or the Fed Ex dude.

Flexibility: Endless. Time has become completely fluid as it is not unusual on nights that I have insomnia to work from 2:00AM to 8:00AM and then take rest of the day off as I have already put in an intense 6-hour day.  

Taxes: Almost everything you purchase for your business or home is deductible.  Truly amazing what the IRS allows.

Vacation and days off: At my discretion. As long as my work is caught up, time is mine. No asking permission or the limited designated two weeks per year.

Management: That’s me.  I certainly have accountability to my clients to complete the jobs they are paying me handsomely for, but there is no one looking over my shoulder and no one specifically to answer to.

There are also many disadvantages to a home business and although I did a tremendous amount of research before making the decision to leave the corporate world, I have learned something every year that I wish I had known when I started.

Technology: I am the IS person. Who would have guessed?  There is no department I can call to fix my computer glitches. I have learned to ALWAYS back up my data and that a crashed computer is your entire business.  Also, computer software, new computers, paper, ink cartridges, and computer fix-it IS people are expensive - all deductible, but expensive.

Support staff: I am my own support staff and assistant.  All those time-consuming tasks such as mailing, copying, filing, storing, and basic office organizational responsibilities are mine. As time is virtually money, time management becomes a must have skill.

Taxes: I pay taxes both state and federal monthly.  You have to have the income made for them first no matter what.  April 15^th is only one of the monthly 15^ths I worry about.  I have 12 of them. Not fun.

Medical benefits: Yep, that’s me, too, and they are way expensive and again, monthly.  This bill is the 1^st of every month and you have to have the income made no matter what.  I found benefits through the local Chamber of Commerce, but there are annual dues that need to be paid to the chamber to even qualify for the benefits.

What to make of my journey?  First, I certainly have made some mistakes, but I think the mistakes should be taken as learning opportunities. Hire a good accountant. Take off those days that are just too beautiful to stay inside and take the time to smell the roses.  Follow your dreams. Perhaps corny and Disney-like, but it’s real. Enjoy your family and friends daily as life is too short to miss out on the good stuff. Read everything – knowledge is power. Enjoy what you decide to do. You spend most of your life working or sleeping, so work at what you love and get good, comfy linens. Take those calculated risks.  Do the best you can to be true to yourself.  Each individual personal trip is uniquely different so make the most of yours. And, most important, don’t be afraid. Fear is a human emotion that holds back so much creativity.  The worst you can do is fail. After failing, you will still need to get a ticket for your next trip.  So, fasten that seatbelt, put up that tray table, and travel first class when you can!

Andrea Edwards (G‘02)