Tips for Working from Home

Remote business consulting tips

Written by: Mary Smith

I used to live in Washington, D.C., and since our only offices are based in Elgin, Illinois, I worked from home for nearly three years. When it came time to work from home again due to the pandemic, I was ready. Even some of my team members were ready to work from home, but not all. I offered the advice I could to those who needed it and trusted that those who didn’t knew how to thrive in their new working environment. While there are now several articles out there detailing how to work from home successfully, I want to share my experience with our readers. Below you will find IA Business Advisors approved tips for working from home.

Tip #1: Create a Productive Mental Space

Creating a productive mental space may sound hard, but it’s actually pretty easy! All you need to do is trick yourself into thinking that working from home is normal by following these two rules:

1) Create your “workspace” away from your TV or bedroom.

Your brain associates the place you sleep in with, well, sleep. If you try to work in your bedroom, you will be distracted, tired, and unproductive. Similarly, if you try to work in the same area where you relax and watch TV, your brain will think you are there to relax. This can cause the same issues as trying to work in your bedroom. To successfully work from home, you must create a “workspace” that is just for work.

It can be an office, a designated spot at the kitchen table, or even somewhere you have blocked off and created just for you. If you live in a smaller space with less room available for a designated space, try creating “barriers” for your space. You can use things, like tape, to mark where your workspace is. Create a box around yourself with sticky note reminders that this space is your workspace! Having a designated workspace will help your brain understand that this space is for being productive and for work only.

2) Have a routine.

You’ve heard it before, routines are helpful. But why? Just as you create a workspace away from your relaxing areas, you need to designate working times and stick to them each day. Personally, my designated working times are 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. At about 4:00 pm, my brain hits an “I’m done for the day” wall, so if I start later than 8:00 am, I am in trouble. My brain is used to my working hours, it’s the time when it is most active. Essentially, successfully working from home is all about structure and state of mind. If you can make it easier for yourself to work from home by following these first two rules, you will be productive.

Additionally, if you don’t live alone, you will need to set boundaries with those you live with. This is another area where having a routine will benefit you! If you have a routine, everyone you live with will know your routine. If you have children and have projects that need uninterrupted work, designate times to work on those projects and ask them to respect that you need some time to think. This can be tricky with little ones. If your children are very little, either set your thinking time around their nap time, or find an activity to occupy them during your thinking time. I won’t pretend this is an easy task and commend all the parents working from home with children.

Tip #2: Take Care of Yourself

Working from home means it’s easy to fall into a slump and not care about showers, eating, drinking water, or even socializing. Home is where we are comfortable. It’s where we have our comfy clothes and all our favorite things. We might think, “Well, I didn’t do anything today besides wake up and work, so I don’t need a shower.” Wrong. You still need to take care of yourself when you decide to work from home. If you’re a nighttime showerer, like me, that means washing your face and brushing your teeth in the morning. Or, if you’re a morning showerer, not skipping your morning shower! This is all part of your routine and keeping a healthy mental space.

Keep water by you, set reminders for eating (this one is hardest for me), get up and take a stretch every once in a while (set an alarm on your phone or in your calendar to remind you if you need to), schedule time to socialize with friends or even just finding your online community, and, perhaps most importantly, have empathy for yourself. If you’re not having a good day, be honest about it. This time is crazy for so many people. Now is the perfect time to learn how to have empathy for yourself and your situation. Additionally, if you’re in a good place mentally, reach out to your friends. We all need to check up on those we love and protect our circle of influence. Taking care of yourself is taking care of those around you, too.

Tip #3: Don’t Take Things Personally

Times are tough, but now is not the time to take things personally. Working from home means more communication through email, IM, and text. Unfortunately, tone is completely lost in modern day communication methods (minus the use of emojis). Plus, a lot of people are dealing with serious turmoil and trauma in their personal and professional lives. It’s important to not take things so personally and to have empathy for others. Taking things personally does nothing but disrupt your day and cause negativity. If you want to learn more about how to not take things personally and why you shouldn’t, watch this TED Talk.

Tip #4: Overcommunicate

This tip goes hand-in-hand with tip #3. While some are poor at communicating, you don’t have to be. You know how difficult it is to work with someone who can’t, or chooses not to, communicate properly. Don’t be that person! Make sure your team knows what you are doing, what you are working on, the time your planning on taking off, if you’re sick, if you’re not going to follow your routine on a certain day, and more. Even if you have told them before, remind them. We are all wrapped up in our own lives and days, so a gentle reminder to your team about what you are doing will keep the communication door open.

I’ve said it in this blog, but I’ll say it again; have empathy for yourself and others during this time. If we can all open our hearts and minds to the lives of others and to ourselves, working from home won’t be so hard! Set up your positive mental space, clear physical space for your office, stick to your routine (but have empathy for yourself if you don’t!), take care of your body, and overcommunicate with your team. If you have a specific question about working from home, comment below or message us on Facebook!

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How to Mitigate Financial Risk Using the S.M.A.R.T. Management System

June 9, 2025

In an increasingly volatile economy, businesses cannot afford to be reactive when it comes to their finances. Whether you're a startup founder, a growing enterprise, or a seasoned business owner, the risk of financial instability is real—and growing. At IA Business Advisors, we help companies proactively navigate these risks using our comprehensive S.M.A.R.T. Management System . S.M.A.R.T. is more than just a goal-setting acronym. It is a decision-making and execution framework that brings clarity, structure, and alignment to every part of your business. From six-week action plans to one-year targets and long-term strategy, S.M.A.R.T. ensures your financial operations support healthy growth and resilience. Understanding Financial Risk in Today’s Business Climate Financial risk is multifaceted. It ranges from cash flow disruptions and market shifts to internal mismanagement and over-leveraged growth. As Brian Smith shared on a recent Daily Influence podcast episode, unchecked growth can drive a company into bankruptcy. Scaling without intention—chasing fast growth without aligning the internal team and financial resources—leads to diluted communication, quality issues, and operational chaos. Mitigating financial risk begins by understanding that more revenue doesn't always equal more stability. True sustainability comes from building systems that support intentional, well-paced growth. The S.M.A.R.T. Framework in Action: Reducing Financial Risk Our S.M.A.R.T. Management System guides businesses in creating resilient, financially stable operations through: 1. Specific: Build with Intentionality Clarity is power. One of our podcast guests, Mike Heatwole (CEO of The Dala Group), emphasized the importance of sitting down to define what matters most—whether that’s paying down debt, investing in growth, or launching a new venture. When your financial goals are specific, your strategy becomes targeted and less prone to reactive decision-making. “If we don’t know what the goal is, how do we get there?” — Mike Heatwole, CEO of The Dala Group 2. Measurable: Track What Matters Many companies are blindsided not by invisible risks, but by unmonitored ones. We help clients implement tools to track cash flow, margin fluctuations, and budget variances in real time. Visibility into your financial health gives you the power to respond early and course correct as needed. 3. Achievable: Assign Financial Stewardship Risk is reduced when financial responsibility is distributed. Through teamwide financial literacy and clear accountability, we empower organizations to make stronger daily decisions. No individual person should carry the entire burden—and no key area should go unmonitored. 4. Relevant: Make Risk Management a Habit Quarterly or biannual financial health check-ins create a sustainable rhythm. These don’t have to be complicated—they just need to be consistent. Regular reviews embed risk awareness into your company culture and decision-making process. 5. Timely: Foster Honest Dialogue Financial silence is a hidden threat. As Brian noted on the podcast, emotions like fear or shame can prevent businesses from facing financial realities. We encourage honest, blame-free communication around financial performance, creating space for solutions and collective action. Case in Point: Short-Term Action, Long-Term Impact One of our clients, a family-run distribution company, had strong revenue but was bleeding cash due to aging receivables. Together, we built a six-week S.M.A.R.T. Plan focused on accounts receivable recovery. We implemented weekly check-ins, assigned ownership, and used real-time tracking. Within 90 days, their outstanding A/R dropped by 22%, freeing up capital and restoring operational confidence. It’s Never Too Late to Get Financially Intentional Many leaders in their 40s, 50s, or 60s worry they’ve waited too long. But as Mike Heatwole wisely shared: “It’s never too late. Just get started. Do something.” Progress—not perfection—is the goal. Start small. Build momentum. Take the next best step. This mirrors a concept we love from The Gap and The Gain by Dan Sullivan: measure progress based on how far you've come, not just how far you have to go. Final Thoughts: Make Financial Stability a Strategy Mitigating financial risk isn’t about a dramatic overhaul. It’s about consistent action, visibility, and intentional decision-making. With the S.M.A.R.T. Management System, IA Business Advisors helps businesses turn risk into clarity, fear into focus, and instability into opportunity. If you’re ready to start, we’re ready to help. Let’s have a conversation about what matters most to you—and build from there.

Enhancing Interpersonal Relationships for Toxic Workplace Recovery

May 29, 2025

Hello, team! Mary here, continuing our journey through the I in Team series, where we challenge and empower you to Find , Be , and Build Your Influence. One of the most common things we’re asked to help our clients with is toxic workplace recovery. This directly connects to the culture of the team, and while rebuilding that culture takes time and intention, it is absolutely possible. In fact, with the guidance of our I in Team approach and S.M.A.R.T. Management system, we’ve successfully helped more than 19,000 teams evolve into high-performing, values-based cultures. If you’re ready to take the lead and breathe life back into your team, we’re here and ready to support you. Practice Emotional Intelligence One of the most impactful steps you can take on your toxic workplace recovery journey is to practice emotional intelligence (the ability to recognize, understand, and manage both your own emotions and the emotions of those around you). Toxic environments are often the result of emotional disconnection, poor communication, unnecessary competition, and a culture that avoids constructive feedback. Begin by shifting your perspective: respond with empathy, ask thoughtful questions, and use “I” statements. These habits model two traits, emotional regulation and empathy, that influence how your team interacts and solves problems. Start small. For example, set a personal goal to give one piece of sincere praise or recognition per day. This is a S.M.A.R.T. goal, and it starts to reinforce positive emotional exchanges. Over time, this contributes to a psychologically safe environment where people feel seen and supported. Foster Open Communication Once emotional intelligence begins to take root, toxic workplace recovery is just around the corner. Open communication becomes more natural because when team members are aware of their own and others’ emotions, communication becomes seamless. The number one rule? Listen. Really listen. Without listening, communication is incomplete. Try implementing monthly influence partnerships—team pairings that rotate so members can get to know each other beyond surface-level roles. This creates connection and, when done with consistency (Timely), fosters trust across your team. Another way to build open communication is by creating a structured feedback loop. Clarify how and when feedback should be given—perhaps during weekly one-on-ones or monthly review meetings—and make sure all team members understand the difference between criticism and constructive feedback. S.M.A.R.T. feedback is Specific and Relevant, and when delivered with respect, it encourages team members to grow without fear. Lead by Example As we say throughout the I in Team series, everyone is a leader regardless of title. Whether you’re in the C-suite or just starting your first job, how you show up directly shapes the culture of your team. To begin, set some respectful boundaries rooted in your values. Let others know what you need to succeed and what behaviors support or disrupt your work. When disagreements arise, demonstrate what respectful disagreement looks like—calm, focused on solutions, and free from personal attacks. If your workplace has leaned into competition, shift the focus to collaboration. Collaborate on micro-goals, like shared tasks or cross-functional projects. Make the results Measurable and celebrate wins together (publicly, if possible). Consider S.M.A.R.T.-based team-building events (like problem-solving challenges or goal-setting workshops) to reinforce collaboration in a meaningful way. Final Thoughts Toxic workplace recovery starts with you. Every interaction, every word, every moment of listening is a chance to model what’s possible. Show up the way you want others to show up. If your team is struggling to rebuild or you need expert guidance, reach out . We’re here to help. Let’s keep influencing responsibly and positively together.