But what tasks work best when plied from a small office or home office? Thanks to the computer, advanced telephone systems, the Internet and electronic mail, American workers are able to change their job descriptions. Writers, graphic designers, computer programmers, sales people, financial analysts, accountants, insurance agents and consultants all have the luxury of shifting their tasks from the corporate environment and taking it home or to the small office.

"So many people who would still be out there trying to grind out survival have decided 'I can do it from home'" or on their own, said William Harrington, Ph.D., a professor of management at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who also works from home counseling laid off executives -- some of whom have gone on to become consultants themselves. 

From workers taking sales jobs right out of college, to doctors rethinking their futures amid managed care, to laid-off bankers or other skilled executives capitalizing on their years of knowledge and hanging their shingles as consultants, the face of the small business set is changing. Jobs that might not have seemed right to perform alone or from home a decade ago are now commonplace outside the traditional office setting. Even such stable occupations as medicine or law have found exiles that are seeking a freedom from a dramatically changing professional life.

Relocating to the SOHO or small office/home office location "just gives you another option you've never had before," Harrington said. And with the advent of the executive suite, which provides a small, corporate-style office --complete with reception and secretarial services that empower any lone entrepreneur - going "small time" is not the same challenge it once was, he said.

As powerful computers drop in price, more professions are becoming suitable for the aspiring entrepreneur, experts say. Even those who work for larger companies are finding freedom in their homes as teleworkers or telecommuters -- or full-time employees who work a few days each week or month from home. This setting is ideal for sales and distribution executives who spend much of their workweek on the road, or those workers who can work in -- or need -- solitude to complete their tasks, said Ralph Parilla, a Plantation, Fla., human resources consultant who consults with companies on teleworking.

"Just about any job can wind up teleworking one or two days a week," Parilla said. "Most jobs have enough content that requires heavy thinking and concentration that the productivity is considerable higher when you're able to get away from the sources of interruptions."

For many small business entrepreneurs, the break for the large corporation represents more than freedom. It can present a dramatic lifestyle change. Many find that while the challenges of being the boss and worrying about staffing, payroll, rent, insurance and receivables give them a new perspective on being the "boss," the freedom to set the goals and strive to achieve them is worth the risk. 

* Get psyched. In the beginning of a small office, home-based or other new business venture, it's easy to get dogged by perplexing questions like "what if" and "am I nuts?". Instead, many solo flyers forgot the questions of sanity and focus on "what if" from a positive perspective. "What if I succeed, outpace projections, and need to move into a larger space?" Remember, this was a promotion from employee to entrepreneur, and entrepreneurs are positive thinkers. Once the honeymoon is over, take it to the next level. A mantra to live by: B-E A-G-G-R-E-S-S-I-V-E! Passivity is OK if you're Swiss and there's a war. But not in business. Be competitive, agile, sharp and unswayed by the initial slights and jabs that might come from peers, family and friends. They're just jealous and don't understand the plan. Once you're successful, they'll get the picture -- and admire you for it.

* Choose wisely. What job works best from home or for your new small business -- for the long haul? For many who launch new businesses, moving from corporate drone to self-employed is a matter of taking existing skills from one workplace to another. For others, it represents a clean break and a chance to launch a new career. Choose wisely. Investigate growth industries, especially in your community or region. Take your knowledge base and use it in your new venture, so you're not daunted by the learning curve.

* Plan ahead. Will the home office you create today -- from its placement in the home to the furniture and computer you buy -- serve your needs tomorrow? Home offices don't relocate easily, and furniture isn't cheap. Envision where you think you'll be in a few years and you'll have fewer surprises down the road.

* Become a SOHO evangelist. Many in the corporate community still are inexperienced and downright resentful when it comes to the small office/home office trend. Help introduce them to the benefits of working with those who work from home, or those who have become solo entrepreneurs working from a small business. Tell them of the cost savings they'll experience from your decreased overhead (no more or decreased real estate and desk space, benefits, taxes and other incidentals). Convince them that you -- and those like you -- are more productive because you're more satisfied workers who can be depended upon to complete their projects.

These tips were adapted from Home Office Know-How (Dearborn Publishing, Chicago, 1998).

© 2000 Jeff Zbar's Goin' SOHO!