WorkingFromHome reaches One Year Anniversary!
<p>Hello!</p><p>The past 12 months have been really exciting for the social networking world - and the WorkingFromHome network in particular. I am amazed at how many people have joined online social groups that have an offline function too. There is meetup.com of which I am a member and attended some events for the groups that I belong to. And, on LinkedIn there are more groups. Then there is Facebook which has more groups and Fan pages to belong to where you are notified of any offline events.</p><p>So, as long as you have a computer, you can meet people online...and take the conversation offline too! That is why I started WorkingFromHome a year ago. To seek and find people that have similar interests or challenges in their daily routine of working from home and to socialize with them - in person. I met dozens of people - some through the TabUp group I formed, and others through other sites. I have enjoyed meeting them all...and feel an immediate connection since we all work from home. I must say that I am surprised that after one year, the group remains at 19 members...for several months now we have not gotten any new members. I suppose I should have done a better job of promoting this group. I did notify this group that there is a similar group on meetup...and we have all gotten together earlier in the year.</p><p>I am saddened to report that the meetup group for folks working from home is folding. The Host is moving on to another group that is more aligned with his current goals. I am thinking about taking over that Meetup and will ask more about it when I see him tomorrow. We will still have this TabUp group...I will try and get another offline event going...as the Holidays approach, sneaking out of the office a tiny bit early for happy hour/chatting shouldn’t be too difficult? I hope to see some new faces at the next event.</p><p>If you have any ideas on where to meet in Stamford/Greenwich, let me know!</p><p>Happy Thanksgiving to you all!<br /> </p><p>Cheers, Tina</p>
11/24/2009 8:43:05 PM (Tina)
Aug 26th meet up in Stamford CT:
<p>Hello fellow work-from-home members,</p><p>I hope your summer is going well. The warmer weather finally arrived here (Stamford, CT). Although, it seems to rain a bit (or more) every day since June ... not sure what that is all about!</p><p>It has been a while since we got together so I hope you can make it to this upcoming event with a fellow group from meetup.com. Details can be found at this link:</p><p><a href="http://www.meetup.com/FairfieldWorkFromHome/calendar/10939842/#posted">http://www.meetup.com/FairfieldWorkFromHome/calendar/10939842/#posted</a></p><p>Tells us what you have been up to lately? And, any questions for the group are always welcome!</p><p>Cheers,</p><p>Tina</p><p> </p><p> </p>
8/13/2009 11:00:22 AM (Tina)
POLL: Do you run your own business from home or do you work from a home office for an employer?
<p>Hello Fellow WorkingFromHome colleagues,</p><p>How have you been? It has been a while since we last met up...or corresponded at all.</p><p>We are now 19 members strong. </p><p>I have a poll I would be interested in having you respond to:</p><p>QUESTION #1:</p><p>A. Do you run your own business from home?</p><p>or,</p><p>B. Do you work from a home office for an employer?</p><p>For me, the answer is B. I work from home for a company based in Montreal Canada.</p><p>QUESTION #2:</p><p>What do you use Twitter for? Or if you don`t use it, why?</p><p>I ask this question because at a recent Meetup.com event, the other 4 folks there all run their own business from their home. I was there more for social reasons than how to market my business. Nonetheless the conversation was sooo interesting. We talked mostly about Social Networking and how to effectively market yourself (COMPANY) or "listen" to the trends and topics - especially on Twitter. Also, how to leverage contacts on LinkedIn and Facebook. And, what is the best place for a company to promote their brand...using the proper "etiquette" for these sites, especially Twitter. You should always "provide helpful information" to folks...not just tout your message about your brand. Folks will Unfollow you if you keep doing the latter. Also, the types of twittering - what you ate for breakfast; buzz while you are at a conference; hot trends, etc seem to be of varied interest. We are living in an evolutive era - we know both print and digital/online...and I wonder how long until /if / we are a paperless society?????</p><p>I think I see the sun trying to shine through the clouds - finally!</p><p>Have a g-r-e-a-t weekend everyone!</p><p>Cheers,Tina Stamfor, CT USA</p><p> </p><p> </p>
6/12/2009 12:03:01 PM (Tina)
comments on FierceMoblie
http://www.fiercemobileit.com/story/pandemic-fears-your-organization-ready-teleworking/2009-04-29#comment-261
5/7/2009 1:18:49 PM (Tina)
Update: Events and Membership
<p>Hello fellow WorkingFromHome network,</p><p>I hope you are keeping dry during this rainy period we are having. Since we all work from home, it is fun to see the weather changes that occur. It sure looks like Spring - flowers and trees blooming and getting very lush.</p><p>A couple updates:</p><p>Membership - we are up to 18 members since this group was launched in November. Please try and provide your email address and city and state. We are still not sure where everyone lives. Some of us are from Stamford and Greenwich, CT.</p><p>Also, as I mentioned in a previous update, we have merged collaboration and events with another local group: MeetUp.com Fairfield Work From Home.</p><p>Events:</p><p>Our event after work event is May 13th at the Northern Lights lobby bar at the Stamford Marriott Hotel:</p><p><a href="http://www.meetup.com/FairfieldWorkFromHome/?a=facebook">http://www.meetup.com/FairfieldWorkFromHome/?a=facebook</a></p><p>I hope that all is well with you and that although you are working from home...that you take the time to get out of the house periodically (if not every day!).</p><p>Hope to see you on May 13th!</p><p>Cheers,</p><p>Tina</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
5/5/2009 12:38:27 PM (Tina)
This is the time of year to be sure you get out of the house!
<p>Hello there WorkingFromHome "co-workers",</p><p>I hope this note finds you enjoying the beautiful spring weather and sunshine we are having. The flowers are blooming and the trees are blooming too! The birds are chirping away in song as well.</p><p>I suppose this is the time of year when the focus of -working from home- becomes more challenging than the winter season (at least for those of us in New England area)...at least for me. I must say that I am very committed to putting in a full work day/week but this is the time of the year I truly push myself to get outdoors.... and actually take a REAL lunch break too!!! On winter days or lousy days, I usually opt to just eat at my office desk and keep working!</p><p>The trouble is...in part.... that I don`t have co-workers to go out with for lunch. That will never change, unfortunately for me.</p><p>What do you do? Do you go out for lunch by yourself? Do you opt to eat lunch at home each and every day? Well, if you want to get out of the house for lunch, then we should figure out a place to meet. I live in Stamford Connecticut so local is best. If you are from another town, I encourage you to check out other groups that may be closer to home. Another site other than <a href="http://www.TabUp.com">www.TabUp.com</a> is <a href="http://www.meetup.com">www.meetup.com</a>. Perhaps between these two groups you can find folks to be your "co-worker" for outings.</p><p>So, I hope you enjoy the 2009 warmer-weather-seasons and get yourself out of the house!</p><p>Cheers,</p><p>Tina</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
4/19/2009 4:10:04 PM (Tina)
Merging WorkingFromHome groups
<p>Hello Charter Members,</p><p>We are merging TabUp WorkingFromHome with another local venue in Stamford CT: MeetUp. The value here is to get to know even more people that work from home. It is called MeetUp FairfieldWorkFromHome and you are welcome to register at <a href="http://www.meetup.com/FairfieldWorkFromHome/">http://www.meetup.com/FairfieldWorkFromHome/</a></p><p>They are meeting March 25th at Noon.</p><p>I hope to see you there!</p><p>Tina</p>
3/16/2009 11:00:51 AM (Tina)
What do you miss about office
<p><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><strong>Hey,<br /></strong></span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><strong>Below is article from Computer World </strong></span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9128631&source=NLT_MGT"></a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">:<br /></span></p><p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9128631&source=NLT_MGT"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><strong>http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9128631&source=NLT_MGT</strong></span></a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><strong><br /></strong></span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><strong>Let`s share what we`re missing from office environment.</strong></span></span></p><p><br />Telecommuter Notebook: Things I Miss About the Office<br />Thomas Wailgum<br /> <br />Click here to find out more!</p><p>February 25, 2009 (CIO) What do I miss about working in the office? Let`s start with the way to any man`s heart: his stomach.</p><p>MORE ON CIO.com The Dirty Little Secrets of Telecommuting CIO.com`s Telecommuting Resource Guide Telecommuting Support: Five Tips to Enhance Your Network</p><p>1. Unfettered access to all the fast-food restaurants located just steps from CIO.com`s offices: Wendy`s, Panera and my personal favorite, Taco Bell. There`s nothing quite like trying to get your work done with an afternoon Taco Bell food hangover.</p><p>2. The "just stopping by" visit by colleagues. In the Lakes Region of NH (where I telecommute from), the only "drop by" I get are from the loons in the summer who love to sing their sometimes startling songs and passing snowmobiles in the winter. It`s nice and all, but there`s not a whole lot of dialogue going on.</p><p>Credit: Getty Images</p><p>3. There are no children in the office. I`m going to go right ahead and point out the "double-edged sword" effect of working at home: You get to see your family more often...which can be both good and bad, depending on whether the "Scooby-Doo" theme that wafts up the stairs can be banished from your head and you don`t mind almost blowing out your ankle on a Transformers robot every afternoon. I`ll shut up now.</p><p>4. Having IT people in-house to solve your tech problems in person. I get just a little bit nervous when our IT people remotely "take over" my PC. (Not that I have anything to hide. Really.)</p><p>5. Image protection. Even if you`re not doing a lick of work when you`re in the office, you`re still "in the office." The boss and colleagues can physically see you. And no one suspects that you`re still in your PJs and watching Will Ferrell video clips all day long. (Not that I`ve ever done that.)</p><p>6. There`s no stinky laundry piled up outside your cubicle.</p><p>7. The free-food find: Whether it`s the serendipitous Friday a.m. doughnuts brought in by some benevolent coworker or the "seagulling" free-for-all that happens when you find a feast of lunch food left over from the bigwigs` executive luncheon. (Mmmmmm...five-hour-old ham sandwiches!) Never happens in the home sweet home.</p><p>8. I`m not one to spread untruths (so you didn`t hear it from me), but a little harmless gossip never failed to keep the day moving along. It`s just not smart to send those golden pieces of juicy office rumor and innuendo over e-mail. Especially in these times.</p><p>9. Not having to log on to the temperamental VPN every time you want to get something off of HQ`s servers. (Still trying to figure out why iTunes and VPN don`t mix.)</p><p>10. If you leave your work PC at the office, there`s no way you can do any work on it over the weekend. When you work out of the home, it`s always there.</p><p>11. Meeting intelligence. Know all the uncomfortable intrastaff interactions and exchanges (rolling of the eyes, exasperated sighs, awkward glances) that happen during company meetings? Without videoconferencing equipment, I miss out on all the subtle body language and dirt on who really despises who.</p><p>12. Human interaction. Man cannot live by e-mail, IM and Twittering alone.</p><p>13. Listening to Howard Stern in the mornings on the drive to work. It`s just not the same at home.</p><p>14. Enjoying a lunch away from the office. At home I feel compelled to sit at my desk and eat lunch and (naturally) keep working.</p><p>15. Those Friday afternoons, when everyone`s burnt out after a long and successful week and just sitting around shooting the bull (including the bosses). Of course, I get to knock off on Friday without having to end my week with a commute from ***. But still.<br /> </p>
2/26/2009 9:47:38 AM (vik)
WorkingFromHome- Expanding Our Reach!
<p>Hello Charter Members!</p><p>Working From Home is expanding its reach thanks to a partnership with Goliath Jobs!</p><p>A former colleague and friend of mine runs Goliath Jobs and believes that working from home will be adopted by more and more corporations for several reasons - check out these two links from Goliath Jobs:</p><p>One is their blog. The other is our myResources page (you need to be logged in to see that):<br /><br />http://goliathjobs.com/resources/<br /><br />http://blog.goliathjobs.com/2009/02/22/working-from-home-a-fun-network-for-the-home-based-employee/<br /> </p><p>Kudos to each of you who work from home -- a dedicated employee --- that is able to motivate yourself everyday and accomplish things that "not many" people can do well- working from home!</p><p>Cheers,</p><p>Tina</p><p> </p>
2/23/2009 12:48:55 PM (Tina)
Where is Everyone? Did you get notice of the event on the calendar?
<p>Hello There WorkingFromHome -ers,</p><p> </p><p>I am sorry no one turned out tonight for our event. There was a snow storm yesterday...perhaps that detered some of you. I heard from one of you that you were under the weather (Louise, I hope you are already feeling better!).</p><p>For the rest of the members...where were you? I am sooo sorry that no one was able to make it out today to the Greenwich Hyatt at 6pm. I did go just in case one of you planned on coming by.</p><p> </p><p>I am not sure that using this site is the best way to communicate local events...many of you haven`t even provided your email address so we can easily notify you. </p><p> </p><p>If you know of a better website to host our network - I am open to suggestions.</p><p> </p><p>I hope you are safe and warm wherever you are in the world!</p><p>Cheers,</p><p>Tina</p>
1/29/2009 10:23:01 PM (Tina)
Happy New Year!
<p>Happy New Year to my fellow workingfromhome network!</p><p> </p><p>We are now 16 *members ... from around the world!</p><p> </p><p>*Please be sure your profile includes the TOWN (and country) you live in. It is helpful to have this information as we plan events. Having an email address is helpful too!</p><p> </p><p>So, how did you ring in 2009- do anything special? I had a small group of friends (both human and canine) join me at my house to ring in the new year. </p><p> </p><p>If you have any ideas for a collaboration topic or local meeting, please share your thoughts.</p><p> </p><p>I hope your 2009 is super-fine!</p><p> </p><p>Cheers,</p><p>Tina</p><p>P.S. I posted a picture from New Years Eve on our Photo section... feel free to post your pictures there too!</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
1/5/2009 2:30:39 PM (Tina)
Successful First Charter Meeting Dec 15th!
<p>Hello there!</p><p> </p><p>As we approach our 1 month anniversary TabUp/WorkingFromHome now has 14 official members.</p><p> </p><p>We had our first meeting on December 15th 2008 at the RBar in the Courtyard by Marriott.</p><p> </p><p>Present were Viktor, Louise and Tina. Others that RSVP`d but were unable to attend include Annie and Kim.</p><p> </p><p>The meeting lasted just under 2 hours and we talked about various topics surrounding working from home. They included: ergonomics of your office/workstation; health issues related to sitting and staring at a computer all day; exercise must be made a part of your daily routine; how technology advancements in the world today facilitate the ability to work from home, successfully and efficiently; reduced costs of travel and time traveling; flexibility of being able to complete tasks outside of the 9-5 work day.... all of these are topics for further detailed conversations.</p><p> </p><p>Happy Holidays everyone and stay tuned for our next event in January!</p><p>Tina</p>
12/16/2008 4:50:01 PM (Tina)
Article in cio.com
http://cio.com/article/438081/Everyone_Works_at_Home_at_Chorus_Part_Three
12/4/2008 5:56:55 PM (vik)
Flexibility
Working from home gives me the ability to work whenever I want With a lap top computer I can pretty much do business anywhere
12/4/2008 11:18:46 AM (vik)
Welcome to TabUp.com's WorkingFromHome page
<p>Tabup/workingfromhome is a way for people to connect. More and more people are working from home - either because their company headquarters location is in another city, or because they are a sole proprietor. This community is for both!</p><p> </p><p>I work from home for a company based in Montreal, Canada. I find telecommuting difficult for two major reasons 1) I am not physically present to interact with colleagues or get the true vibe of the business 2) There is no one for me to go out to lunch with or happy hour, etc.</p><p> </p><p>If you too would like to connect with local folks to share working from home -challenges and -best practices or you just want an unofficial co-worker to go out for lunch with, then this is for you.</p><p> </p><p>I hope we both find great contacts here to meet with and learn from!</p><p> </p><p>Cheers,</p><p>Tina</p>
11/13/2008 4:23:49 PM (TabUp)