working from home

Zero Commute

August 12, 2011 by laceyswartz Leave a Comment

Since starting this blog almost a year ago, I haven’t written much about my experience working from home, but it has definitely been a big part of my greener living/creation care journey. Since leaving the “normal” work world in September of 2004, I have learned a great deal about options for working from home, both from my own experience and from talking with others who either own and operate home businesses of some kind or work from home for larger companies.

The possibilities for working from home are endless, really. As I begin these ‘2nd week of the month’ posts on home businesses, my first focus will be on the creation care benefits of working from home.

As we explore these ideas together, please keep in mind that working from home need not be limited to people who start their own home business of whatever kind. More and more companies these days are allowing their employees to work out flexible schedules, either partially, or sometimes even fully from home. If that’s something you’d like to do, consider approaching your boss about the idea. This is not where my experience has been, so it won’t be a focus of my blog; however, many of the points we consider together will apply in both situations (employees or business owners) and if you want advice on how to approach your boss about working from home, I can put you in touch with people who have done it. Just let me know if you want that info. 🙂

Working from home is not for everyone. For starters, there are many professions that obviously cannot be worked from home. We still need teachers in public school classrooms and doctors in emergency rooms, for example. And for some personalities, working from home simply isn’t a fit. Some folks find being at home far too distracting to really accomplish their work. “Oh, let me finish up that laundry or those dishes first, then I’ll get my work done…”

So, please know that as we explore the ‘green living’ benefits of working from home, I am in no way suggesting that everyone should work from home. That’s neither practical nor ideal. Following the examples found in all creation, we need diversity to thrive. The arena of work is no different. And if you are best suited to work outside the walls of your house, then by all means do so! Even if working from home is not part of your life, I hope you’ll still find these ‘week 2’ posts interesting and helpful. Some of the ideas may still be applicable in your situation, and if nothing else, then perhaps you can pass ideas to others.

For those who are so inclined to work from home, let’s start by considering one of the most obvious benefits. And I only choose to start here because of a recent experience…

A couple weeks ago, my hubby and I were driving up toward NY, and I was absolutely shocked by the number of buses lined up and literally crawling into the city. The traffic was so bad! And these were folks using public transportation. Here is the string of thoughts that went through my head… “Yikes! Can you imagine if they were all in cars? … We need double-decker buses. … What if these people didn’t have to commute to work but could work from home instead? …”

Working from home has the obvious benefit of zero commute, which means fewer vehicles on the road, which means less traffic, which means less idling on the highways, which means less pollution, cleaner air, and fewer asthma attacks for children. Less traffic and less idling also means better gas mileage, which means better stewarding of oil resources, which can in turn help protect the waterways, and on and on goes the ripple effect.

One other quick thought, for those who might be afraid of being stuck in their houses all day: Home-based does not have to mean home-bound. I don’t know too many people who want to stay forever inside their houses. Having a home business can still get you out of the house plenty. As much or as little as you’d like really. It just happens to be based at home (which offers a whole ‘nother set of benefits we’ll look at next month).

Even if your home business takes you out on the road every day, the power to decide not to be clogging up the roads during rush hour traffic is a huge benefit to both the planet and your sanity. 🙂

Downward Mobility

May 21, 2011 by laceyswartz Leave a Comment

I always want to be very careful about how I say this, and I hope you’ll hear me out, but I believe that the recession has been one of the biggest blessings that our country needed. OK, before you think I’m totally crazy, let me explain…

I do not in any way wish to downplay the real hardships that people are facing right now. They are significant and at times overwhelming, no doubt. However, have you noticed the good that is coming out of all this? There is so much good happening. Here are just a handful in no particular order other than as they come to my mind.

1- People are walking away from the pursuit of stuff.
2- People are reconnecting with God’s green earth and its provision for us.
3- People are realizing the unsustainability of our consumer-crazy culture.
4- People are more carefully evaluating their spending, focusing on quality not quantity.
5- People are reducing and reusing more, instead of just recycling and throwing away.
6- People are becoming more conscious of negative environmental impacts on their health.
7- People are plugging back into to community and sharing more.
8- People are returning to entrepreneurship.
9- People are regaining time with family.
10- People are turning back to their faith.

In our household, we are on an intentional journey of what we like to call “downward mobility.” Do we own a home-based business? Yes. Do we desire to grow that business as large as the Lord allows? Yes. Do we do it for our own gain? Only partly. Our take on business and entrepreneurship is this: it is a way for God to meet our needs and then bless others through us. At the same time as we are growing a business, we are seeking to reduce what we consider to be our needs. By intentionally learning to live with less and less, we are finding a deeper connection to God, family, community, and the earth, and we are creating space for God to pour out even greater blessing to others through us. Instead of focusing on wanting more and striving in our business to attain those new heights of material living, we are focusing on wanting: less stuff, more meaningful connections with people, and for God to grow our business to the extent that He wants to position us to be a blessing to others in the future.

And we are so thankful for how God has used this perspective to put up a strong shield around our hearts and minds during a recession.

Only Human

April 30, 2011 by laceyswartz 2 Comments

OK, so my poor blog has now seen April pass as well. But I think we’re getting into our new groove, and this is a quick post mostly to remind myself that I’m only human. I hope it can be a blessed reminder to all you other type-A personalities out there as well. 🙂

I loved my February e-fast. It was truly a detox. When I logged back on to email for the first time, I think I felt my brain melt. Besides clearing out and responding to my emails, I spent most of March trying to get acclimated to some new time limits online, and now, at the very end of April, I’m finally getting back to blogging – at least once a week, Lord willing!

The e-fast was helpful in many ways. It was a wonderful time of drawing closer to the Lord, just resting at His feet while serving my family only. I began my e-fast with a desire to get His direction, and in some ways, I came out of February with more “service options” placed on my heart than I started. At first I thought, “God, that’s not very helpful, I was hoping for some clearer direction!” Then I came to realize His wisdom here – it forces me to stay closer to Him each day going forward.

One of the biggest reminders that I came away with, having all these interests and passions stirring inside me, is that I am only human. OK, duh. But, I need frequent reminding of that, and I know I’m not the only one. 🙂

It’s one of those weird paradoxes in life, I guess. The more I find God expanding my heart for needs in the world, the more I realize how severely limited I am to do anything about them. Rather than run myself ragged trying to “do, do, do,” over-commit, and live a stress-filled life on so many levels, I need to rest in the little peace-filled niche He has carved out for me within His greater plan and let Him do the work through my tiny action steps of faith.

Going into May, He continues to remind me daily to stop my striving and just give my best to the tasks for which He’s called me. Right now, that is first and foremost my family and home (which includes our own creation care/downwardly mobile/green journey). My work beyond the home – whether with my business or volunteer work – is in His hands to guide and grow through this severely limited human as He wishes.

“His strength is made perfect in our weakness.” Such good news! 🙂

Mompreneurs

December 15, 2010 by laceyswartz Leave a Comment

The article below brings up so many great points, and not just for moms. Are we in a recession? Are millions of people jobless and hurting financially right now? Are there all sorts of depressing statistics today to get us down in the dumps? Yes, yes, and yes. And I do not wish at all to trivialize or downplay the very real hardships people are facing.

But there is so much good going on too, if you know where to look for it. As I see it, we are in a major time of transition. And although transitions are rarely comfortable, they have the potential to be major turning points for the better. We can either kick and scream in opposition to the painful change, deciding to remain negative, or we can have faith and look for all sorts of positive opportunities in the change.

I believe the recession is helping the US to begin turning away from our rampant consumerism and unhealthy, unsustainable lifestyle. The lifestyle that constantly tells us we’d be happier if only we had x, y, z. The lifestyle that keeps people trapped in jobs they don’t enjoy because they have to pay the bills, and in many cases pay down their consumer debt. The lifestyle built around instant gratification, quick fixes, and a throw away culture. The lifestyle obsessed with cheaper, better, bigger, faster at any cost. The lifestyle that is contributing to rising rates of disease. The lifestyle that uses more of the planet’s resources than is sustainable for the long term. And I could go on…

Along with this cultural shift comes not only great challenges, but also great opportunities. The article below highlights some of the entrepreneurial opportunities that, in this case moms have tapped into, in industries that are currently growing despite the recession. People are still spending, but they doing so more mindfully and more in line with their basic needs and core values. Whether you’re a mom, dad, or not a parent at all, if you’re looking for work, or more fulfilling work, consider the entrepreneurial options in front of you based on the growing need- and value-based trends out there. Not everyone will hit a big ‘home run’ like the companies highlighted in this article, but there are plenty of other options out there for those willing to try something new. If you have never done anything entrepreneurial in your life before, find a solid business coach to help you through your ideas, or get started with an entrepreneurial option that will help you to gain independent business skills through solid, professional, skill-based training within the supportive framework of an already established and healthily growing company.

For insights into entrepreneurial work-from-home options, including important points to consider to help you avoid disappointment, hype, and scams, check out my work from home page with a free report.

For the article on Mompreneurs that inspired this post, click here.

Buying Local

November 13, 2010 by laceyswartz 1 Comment

Buying local is a hot – and very important – topic. From what I can tell, people generally want to buy local for one of two primary reasons: environmental or economical. They either want to decrease the environmental burden placed on the earth due to business operations such as manufacturing, warehousing, long distance shipping, and consumer activity, or they want to support their local and national economies. Or better yet, both.

I wholeheartedly agree that buying local is important, particularly when it comes to the health benefits of locally grown organic foods. But interestingly, did you know that it is actually possible, albeit perhaps rather uncommon, for companies halfway around the world to be even more beneficial to both the planet and local economies? Seems odd, doesn’t it? Whether they are a local, national, or international enterprise, take the time to ask deeper questions about any company’s environmental and business practices, and you just may be surprised by what you discover.

What is the best example I’ve personally seen and can offer you of this seemingly backwards phenomenon?

When I first stumbled upon the company whose personal care products I have chosen for my family based on a great deal of research (and for whom I now also do consulting work), their location in another country across the globe was a concern to me. But when I did more digging to verify their environmental and business practices with third-party sources, I was shocked to find that the seriousness with which this company takes its environmental and social responsibilities as a global organization could actually make their products a better choice even from so far away.

As just two quick environmental examples: green manufacturing and green transport. Miessence runs their manufacturing and warehousing facilities on wind power for zero emissions, and they work with a non-profit reforestation organization to plant trees in excess of what they would need to plant to merely offset their own global shipping burden. In effect, they are doing more than their share, thus helping offset the excess impact from the many companies who do little or nothing to offset their eco-footprints. In addition to being the first brand in the world to achieve personal care products certified organic to food grade standards, which supports organic farmers around the globe, they were also the first personal care and wellness company to achieve carbon negative business operations. This really impressed me. When I go to a local store to make a purchase of any kind, how often is the total ecological footprint – including the manufacturing, warehousing, and shipping of goods to retail stores, plus the impact of my own drive to the store – actually offset in its entirety and then some?

And what about economically speaking? There are two parts to this in the case of Miessence, and you can apply similar principles and questions to any company whose goods, of any kind, you are considering. First, Miessence bolsters the global economy by supporting national economies all over the world via the ethical, fair-trade sourcing of their certified organic ingredients. From my perspective as a US citizen, therefore, I was glad to learn that many of the ingredients they use, particularly in their superfood products, are sourced from the US, thereby supporting our farmers who are committed to organic, sustainable agriculture. (And of course, this is actually a double benefit to both the economy and environment.)

Secondly, let’s talk about job creation. Are there companies from whom you could choose to buy online with little or no benefit to your local economy, and who contribute a limited number of jobs often in only one location? Sure. But there are also socially progressive companies structured in such a way as to bring business empowerment and work opportunities onto the ground in whatever country or state they operate. In my opinion, this was another huge benefit of Miessence – they have the potential to provide hundreds or even thousands of meaningful work opportunities, part or full time, for people in regions all across the country and globe. And now more than ever, with US unemployment at record highs, every new opportunity for fulfilling work created here in our country, states, and neighborhoods, whether from a local or international company, is a significant benefit.