Interview: Paul and Sarah Edwards, Authors of The Working From Home Encyclopedia

Book Title:
Working From Home Encyclopedia

Website URL: 
http://elmstreeteconomy.com

Facebook: 
http://www.facebook.com/paulofelmstreet

LinkedIn: 
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/paul-robert-edwards/3/612/15a

What is your book about?

The Working From Home Encyclopedia provides the most comprehensive current advice on everything you need to know to live and work under the same roof including setting up a home office, insurance, legal matters, money, tax, and time management, family issues, avoiding loneliness, and getting plenty of business to come to you. Whether you’re looking for what kind of work you can do to secure an income, already know what you want to do to use your home as a workplace to do, or just use it as a base because smart phones and tablets enable you to work anywhere, the Working From Home Encyclopedia will give you the information and access to the resources you need.  Prior to evolving into an Encyclopedia, Working From Home was published in five print editions and sold over half a million copies. The Encyclopedia integrates other of the Edwards’ print books to create a complete compendium.

What inspired you to write your book? 

Sarah began our experience working from home after she went to a meeting in a consultant’s office, which turned out to be his home. This inspired her to think about opening a counseling practice in our home. At the same time, I started a consulting practice, having both a downtown and a home office. I then  combined the offices and work at home, too. People were curious both about our both working at home and how we did it. Since both of us had wanted to write a book since childhood, we decided to write our first book Working From Home, which was the first book of its kind from a commercial publisher.

How did you come to do what you’re doing today?

I (Paul) have always been intrigued with encyclopedic references and when I was eight years old, I began reading an encyclopedia page by page. So after Sarah and I wrote more than 17 books, I decided to combine them into an encyclopedia reference. Sarah has always been curious, which is one of the things that attracted us to one another. So, we support one another’s efforts and for many years have worked together.

Can you describe a typical day in your life?

Our day begins with breakfast in the kitchen of our home. After breakfast, I go to our home office on the lower level of our home. Sarah either goes to her counseling office where she sees clients or goes into our home office to do administrative work. During the day, I see or talk on the phone with several consulting clients and do research and writing. We work until dinner after which we watch a few TV shows, exercise, and then read novels to one another.

What do you most enjoy about what you do?

Both of us are intrigued with both learning and then sharing what we know with others. We have done this in many forms – face to face, speaking, teaching, writing, having our own radio and TV shows.

Are there any people and/or books that have inspired you along your journey?

Many of the people we have interviewed – some people are well known like Victor Frankl, Norman Cousins, Al Reis, Olympic Gymnast Tim Daggett, Steve Allen, and many more. We read many books and eBooks – both fiction and non-fiction. Some of the non-fiction writers that I have found great value in reading include Malcolm Gladwell, William Strauss and Neil Howe, James Gleick, Al Reis, and Jack Trout, and many more.

 Can you share some business tips for our readers?

These tips are tailored to people who want to work from home:

• If devoting full-time, expect to work 50+hours week
• If part-time schedule weekday hours not just weekends
• Set up a firm schedule – firm for you and others
• Begin each workday the same way such as by checking e-mail
• End each workday the same way such as by planning the next day
• To be more productive  take mini-breaks each hour
• Put family and free time on your schedule
• Know yourself – Do you work better under pressure or relaxed?
• Offer a customer a discount if the customer will link to your web site or include your brochure in a mailing.
• Have a separate telephone line for your business.  Always answer the telephone with a pleasant greeting
• Line up a lawyer, accountant, and computer consultant before you need them.
• Let technology save you time and money

What’s next for you?

We’re interested in localization – being able to work from home is key to people having enough time to be involved locally. So Sarah and I established a non-profit, Let’s Live Local, whose purpose is to help our community remain viable by making it possible for more people to earn their livelihoods, shop, play, as well as live in the community.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

We now teach workshops and webinars on Finding a Sustainable Livelihood and training for communities and organizations in how to encourage localization. 

We are taking our content into onto online education venues.