This book was written well before the corona virus hit the workplace. For decades, working from home had been just a dream for most people but gradually more venturous souls began realising that it could actually be done. Throughout the suburbs, garages, sheds, granny flats and spare rooms were being transformed into offices and mini-showrooms, back gardens were turning into nurseries and home kitchens were becoming catering outlets.
When the pandemic came along, it separated millions of employees from their jobs and children away from their schools. The rules of quarantine and self-isolation were not totally without opportunity however, allowing those fortunate enough to be able to work online to experience a new way of life: working at home meant some measure of relaxation, parents found time to interact with their children and form closer ties, there was time for indulging in hobbies, past-times and learning to enjoy exercise and the great outdoors.
Over the many weeks of social isolation, the pluses of working from a home base became attractively obvious. Many an employee whose 'office' was now the kitchen table or a desk and chair in the family room would think nothing of spending the morning in pyjamas while attending corporate meetings via Zoom or Skype. Soon many were dreading the day they'd be asked to return to the office full time. Society became divided over the issue: there were those who actually longed to return to the stress-filled busy lives they had been denied for months but others
wanted the new way to continue for ever.
Soon, however, it became obvious that post-pandemic, there may not be too many alternatives to consider as thousands of workers were not going to be able to go back to their jobs. Businesses had folded! Jobs had disappeared! Going back to the 9 - 5 grind would at least have meant an income. Was there no alternative way to make a living? People had mortgages, bills to pay! Where would they turn?
Nevertheless, the realisation started to filter into people's minds that there are other ways to earn a wage rather than being reliant on someone else to provide it. Why couldn't any capable person work and build a profit for themselves instead of 'the boss'? What was to stop anyone from establishing their own home-based business, have a 'work-from-home' lifestyle and become a business success in their own right?
Economists say working-from-home is predicted to be the preferred way of working into the future. Furthermore, there are even more important issues that could potentially be solved by working for oneself.
For decades, workers have complained - rightly or wrongly - that an employer's interest in a worker's output and value generally starts to deteriorate as the latter approaches 'retirement age'. Instead of becoming more valuable to their firm as they get older and more experienced, the general consensus among workers appears to be that most feel less valued - sometimes even ignored - by the age of 50 or so.
It was for this reason that we produced the original version of this manual: to show the over-50's how simple it can be to set oneself up in a home-based business if they wish to keep working beyond retirement age. Yes, there are risks in setting up one's own business...but aren't there also risks in working for someone else? Wouldn't you rather be the one planning and and having a say in what is going on in a business on which you are dependent?
You will be the one at the wheel, making preparations, investing and re-investing, being vigilant and guarding your nest egg against pandemics and recessions. You just need to find out what work is required and how you can fulfil those requirements to a professional standard that people will trust and value.