"It may be that you need to work with the door closed during certain hours of the day so family knows that you're doing something important and don't want to be disturbed, or you can leave a sign on the door so that they know you need some quiet," said Best.

 

If your office needs more than a cosmetic fix - decent, usable office furniture coupled with some peace and quiet - put yourself through home office boot camp. Here's how:

Report for duty

Many home business owners don't set schedules for themselves, a formula for disaster, said Best.

Investing in a good day planner and creating a daily schedule, even if you can't fill all of the hours in a business day yet, is the first step on the way to a productive office.

 

Strange, for instance, sticks to a work schedule, even if she never leaves the house.

She gets to work at a set time each morning, takes a lunch break in the afternoon and doesn't leave the office until 6pm, just as she would at any other business.

"I have the freedom to block out the day if I want to take a day off, but I keep a schedule," said Strange, who started off as an Avon sales representative and has grown her business to include not only sales, but training for other representatives.

 

She currently has nearly 130 recruits working under her.

"I take the experience seriously. This is a full-time job, and I treat it like one, but I'm my own boss. I report to myself."

 

 

The Gilroy Dispatch

 Avon Advisory Panel NYC

 

 

 Merilyn Strange -center- Representative Advisory Panel in New York with Avon CEO Andrea Jung -seated front-center

 

New York - Gilroy resident and Avon Sales Representative Merilyn Strange traveled to Corporate Headquarters to serve on Avon's Representative Advisory Panel hosted by top executives, including Andrea Jung, chairman and CEO; Susan Kropf, president and COO; and Liz Smith, president, Avon North America.

 

Merilyn is one of only 10 representatives from across the country selected to join the panel, held in New York City Sept. 27 to 29.

 

"Merilyn was appointed to join this prestigious panel because of the overwhelming success she has achieved," said Garth Warner, regional vice president.

 

Strange became a representative 14 years ago. Today, as a Advanced Unit Leader in Avon's Leadership Program, Strange recruits, mentors and manages new representatives. Her leadership empire includes more than 135 representatives with sales that average nearly $250,000 annually.

 

Strange is a member of Avon's Honor Society, exclusive to representatives with minimum annual sales of $20,200. She is a Certified Beauty Advisor and runs a beauty center in her home office.

Being a representative has proven to be a lucrative career option. She appreciates the opportunity to share the secrets of her success with new recruits.

 

"I was truly honored to be asked to be a part of the National Representative Advisory Panel," Strange said. "It is rewarding to know that my thoughts and feedback will be used to shape the direction of the Avon business."

 

 

Andrea Jung, Avon Chairman and CEO; Merilyn Strange

Susan Kropf (past) President & COO, Merilyn Strange

Angie Rossi, Group Vice President - Global Sales Development at Avon Products Inc. ;  Merilyn Strange; Tom Kelly,  Avon Senior Vice President U.S. Direct Selling