The 60-Second Commute: A Guide to Your 24/7 Home Office Life [Paperback]

Erica Orloff (Author), Kathy Levinson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 3, 2003

More than 60,000,000 people work at home at least some of the time--and many more are considering it. Now in paperback format, The 60-Second Commuteis the start-to-finish sourcebook for overcoming every challenge associated with working at home--from choosing the right technology to balancing work with personal life. Erica Orloff and Dr. Kathy Levinson start by assessing the pluses and minuses of working at home, and helping readers realistically evaluate whether they're cut out to do so. The authors systematically review meat-and-potatoes issues like insurance and taxation, deciding whether to incorporate, and setting up a comfortable and productive home office. Equally important, they offer extensive practical advice on the personal side of working at home--from time management to "mental health days," avoiding isolation to setting house "rules" that help work-at-home professionals get the job done without disregarding family, friends and neighbors

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"For Americans who want to create a 'no spin' lifestyle of self-reliance and independence, The 60-Second Commute provides the pathway. If time is money, you'll be taking this book to the bank."

Bill O'Reilly, The O'Reilly Factor

Working at home can help you build a life of deeper personal satisfaction, stronger connections with family and friends, and greater financial independence. But for the unprepared, there are pitfalls at every turn. When your home is the office, how do you balance your work life and your personal life? How do you keep everyone happy-your kids, your customers, the IRS, and most of all, yourself? One book will show you how: The 60-Second Commute.

Erica Orloff and Kathy Levinson offer practical tips and realistic answers for childcare, family life, health insurance, time management, organization, marketing, technology, budgeting, vacations, incorporation... you name it. Whether you work at home full time, or just a few hours a week-or you're just thinking about it—The 60-Second Commute will make your home office experience more successful in every way.

* Home life, work life: getting the best of both

Getting your work done—and making room for the rest of your life

* Child care: finding what's right for you and your child

Babysitters, daycare, au pairs? Getting childcare help that gives you peace of mind

* Organizing yourself for success

A step-by-step guide to organization without pain

* Practical professionalism: maximizing your credibility and your value

Looking "bigger" than you really are—so you can charge the prices you deserve

* Marketing your home office-based business

Powerful, low-cost techniques for reaching your best customers

* Telecommuting: Getting the best of both worlds

"Selling" telecommuting to your boss—and making it work for your career

* Hanging in when the going gets tough

Practical strategies for recharging your batteries and revitalizing your home business

The practical guide to work-at-home success!

• Balancing work and family life: great tips, real solutions
• Setting up a home office you'll love to work in
• Choosing the right equipment: computers, phones, fast Internet connections, and more
• The 24/7 lifestyle: Time management in the home office
• Organizing yourself for maximum efficiency
• Insurance, budgets, taxes, and the law
• Includes quick quiz: is working at home right for you?

More than 60,000,000 people already work at home at least some of the time, and millions more wish they did. Now, there's a start-to-finish sourcebook for everyone with a home office—or a dream!

The 60-Second Commute shows how to overcome every challenge associated with working at home, from choosing the right technology to balancing your work and personal life. Erica Orloff and Dr. Kathy Levinson systematically review meat-and-potatoes issues like insurance and taxation, deciding whether to incorporate, and setting up a comfortable and productive home office.

Equally important, they offer extensive practical advice on the personal side of working at home—from avoiding isolation to setting house "rules" that help you get the job done without disregarding the people you love.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Erica Orloffis a writer, editor, and novelist whose books include The Best Friend's Handbook (0802788203), a book for pre-teens that she wrote with her 11-year-old daughter; The Big Sleep: True Tales and Twisted Trivia About Death (0517220482), and Balloonatiks: The First Goopy, Goofy, Loopy Adventure (0970333803), the first in a series of books complementing the new WB Network children's show. Kathy Levinson, Ph.D.is a psychologist and author of First Aid for Tantrums (1885843046). Both authors have appeared on over 250 TV and radio shows over the last 3 years promoting their books, including an appearence on the Sally Jessy Raphael Show.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: FT Press; 1 edition (July 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 013130321X
• ISBN-13: 978-0131303218
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,264,807 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Erica Orloff is the author of over 20 novels for adults, young adults, and (as Erica Kirov) middle-grade readers. She is a native New Yorker, but currently resides in Virginia with her family and menagerie of pets. Despite venturing South, she still roots for the Yankees. In her nonexistent free time, she enjoys knitting, playing poker, and hunting for Buddha statues for her collection.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great title -- simple ideas, March 21, 2003

By 

Dr Cathy Goodwin (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The 60-Second Commute: A Guide to Your 24/7 Home Office Life (Hardcover)

What a great title! Unfortunately, most of the book has useful but very simplistic tips. There's little effort to come to grips with the realities of home office life.
The BEST part is the section on "the way we were," where the authors acknowledge their organizational flaws. I felt relieved -- I wasn't the only one!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars professional advice, November 15, 2002

By 

Reader One "Reader One" (Boca Raton, Florida USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The 60-Second Commute: A Guide to Your 24/7 Home Office Life (Hardcover)

Mazny years ago the famed author Dr. Alvin Toefler predicted that more of us would be working from our homes. That projection came true leaving a space for advice as to how to do it. The authors Kathy Levinson and Erica Orloff not only provide a solution but valuable advice about issues we may not have considered. This book is tastefully and professionally crafted. Following my reading of the book I found that refering to this text is like going to a seasoned business professional for direction and cousel.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Read!, June 7, 2004

By 

Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The 60-Second Commute: A Guide to Your 24/7 Home Office Life (Hardcover)

Erica Orloff and Kathy Levinson pair up to deliver a jam-packed, step-by-step, practical guide on how to "have it all." You can conduct a fulfilling career and have a personal life at the same time, if you work at home. Today, with the majority of America working from home in some capacity or another, this book is a must-have on almost every bookshelf. In their hysterically funny way, the authors bring to light any snare you can imagine (and some you'd never think of!) while starting a home business or venturing into the world of telecommuting. And if they make it sound just a little too breezy, you'll find that out as you proceed. So whether you're just toying with the idea of reducing your commute time to less than 60 seconds or your business has already taken over your home, we recommend picking up this quick read and spending some time with two funny ladies who know first hand how to make a home-based business work.