Work at
Home Wednesday
Name: Anetra Henry-Hunting Company: The Hunting Group
Please tell us about
your business: I started The Hunting Group in 2010 after
the company I worked for went bankrupt and closed abruptly. I'd been searching for months for another
job, interviewing, traveling for interviews only to be told I was
overqualified, or needed a master's degree, or I was too ambitious--basically
no. I finally decided to tell myself yes
and start my own business with the support and help of my husband, Nick. We offered
management and marketing solutions and focused on small to medium sized
businesses. I initially started doing contract work, requiring me to be
on-site, but the nature of my clients have changed as I have shifted to more
sponsorship clients versus operations management consulting which allows me to
work fully from home.
My degree is in
Marketing, however my experience is in operations management for the Salon,
spa, and wellness industry. Part of my duties included influencing or making
marketing decisions for the locations I managed--especially when it came to
sponsorship/donation requests. I've seen
it all and that's why I decided to re-focus my business in this area. It really bothers me to see entrepreneurs have
amazing ideas for events, but because they are uneducated about the process,
they get denied funding. Also, it
bothers me to see small and medium sized businesses miss out on the opportunity
to create loyal clients because they, too, are uneducated about the benefits of
sponsorship or what to ask for to make it a true win-win.
How long have you been
working from home? 2 years
Do you work from home
full time or part time? Full time
How do you stay
connected with colleagues in your field? Social media is a major help-- Google +,Facebook, and LinkedIn groups help
me stay connected to my contemporaries.
However, there is no substitute for that personal connection. I Skype with one of my accountability
partners several times per week and meet face to face with another colleague
2-3 times per month.
How do you deal with
the isolating nature of working from home? Skyping with my accountability
partner several times per week makes me feel like I'm still in an office
somewhat. I also keep a TV on in a
different room for the voices. It fills
my "home quarters" up with the sounds of ideas and work!
How do you stay
motivated without the accountability of a "time clock"? Motivation based on a "time-clock" has never been
an issue for me. When I had a clock to
punch, I was that person that had to stop myself because I was undervaluing my
time. I once calculated that I worked
for $6/hour as a Regional Director because of the amount of time I was putting
in.
What are the biggest
challenges you face when working from home?
The bouts of "ADD" type behavior. I'm still a wife, a daughter, sister, friend,
dog owner--and I am IN my house and everyone knows it. It can be easy to get distracted by the list
of "chores" that "someone" was supposed to do, but somehow,
got left undone or those mid-day phone calls from a loved one who forgets that
I'm not just "at home" but I WORK from home.
Do you work in your
underwear? Sometimes, if pajamas count as underwear, then yes.
What is the best part
about working from home?
The best part is to
only have to turn "on" the parts of me that need to be
"on". When I worked in
corporate, I had to look a certain way (get dressed, do my hair and make-up,
and smile--especially in the spa, salon, and wellness industry) just to go
somewhere to do what I do best all while being aware what my body language may
be saying to a team member. Working from
home, I get to focus ALL my energy on the project at hand and not (always)
worry about if my lipstick is still on or if my hair is out of place.
What is the one item
that you find vital to have in your home office? Lysol wipes.
What is the one piece
of advice that you can give to those just starting out working from home? I strongly recommend
getting an "accountability partner"--someone who has permission to
tell you when you when are moving in the wrong direction regarding your
goals. Mine gets on my nerves (LOL), but
she keeps me on my toes and out of my comfort zone so I can continue to grow
professionally and personally.
Continue the conversation...
If you are an entrepreneur that works from home and would like to be
highlighted in an interview,
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