Typically, I work a 16 hour day. Yes, my work day is 16 hours, minus the distractions that is. After the distraction time is removed from that 16 hours, who knows how much time is left for actual work.

I know, let's figure it out. Here is a quick list of some of those distractions and the approximate time they cost me.

"Honey Come Here" -- This distraction consists of opening jars, getting things down off the high shelves, walking all the way to the other end of the house to hand something to my wife that was only 4 feet from where she was seated in the first place, fixing things, explaining what I'm doing, running off door to door salesmen, and giving kisses.

Time Lost: 2 hours

"Honey Where Are You?" -- This consists of me looking for my wife so I can flirt with her and occasionally... well, that's none of your business.

Time Lost: 1 hour (or so)

"Honey! They're not listening to me!" -- This is time spent being the global superpower that backs up all of Mom's threatening statements to the kids.

Time Lost: 1 hour

"Dad!" -- This consists of stopping fights, taking away sharp objects, explaining why rooms must be cleaned, helping with homework, stopping fights, holding down body parts while Mom digs out slivers, getting down cups, hiding or throwing away markers and glue, and stopping fights.

Time Lost: 1.5 hours

Sweaty Rump -- During the rare occasion that I'm left alone to work for a long period of time, sometimes I just need to stand up and 'air' out.

Time Lost: 15 minutes to 2 hours (depending on what else distracts me while I'm up.)

Hunger -- What? I can't just sit there and never want food!

Time Lost: 1 hour (hey, sometimes I can eat a lot.)

Phone Calls -- Every time I sit down at the computer, apparently it's a signal for my wife and kids to want to call someone. I guess I should just spend the money and put in another phone line, but they would probably just take that one over, too.

Time Lost: 1 hour

Fatigue -- This is an interesting phenomenon as well. I can run all day taking care of other things or playing around and feel just fine. Then, as soon as I spend 10 minutes sitting in front of the computer, I'm tired.

Time Lost: 2 hours

"It's OK, I'm the Boss" -- I've used this excuse with myself to take time off WAY too many times.

Time Lost: 2 hours

Movies -- I like movies. Even with the TV going in a separate room, they still tempt me. Of course, if the kids wouldn't have the volume up to 90 decibels, it might not be such a problem.

Time Lost: 2 hours

Now, here's the catch. If I was working at a regular job how many of these excuses would fly? You guessed it, NONE!

So, what am I going to do about it? Since I am the boss, does this mean I have to fire myself?

Well, so far, my answer to the problem has been the 16 hour work day. I plan a 16 hour work day, thereby allowing enough time for all the distractions. So how much time do those distractions take?

According to what I listed above, about 14 hours. That leaves only 2 hours for real work.

Well, next time you see an ad for a home business claiming you only have to work a few hours a week, now you'll know why.

Because that's all that's really possible anyway! _________________________________________________________________

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Tony Murtagh may be contacted at http://www.DevelopYourWebSiteAndYourself.com murtagh@bigfoot.com. Click here to view more of their articles.
Tony, who lives in England has wide experience in both business to business and consumer sales and marketing . He spent the first part of his career involved in sales, sales management, marketing and PR. He was a National Sales Manager for a mobile communications company and had his own publishing company producing a monthly Business to Business magazine. He has spent the last ten years working in the hospitality industry, again with the emphasis on marketing and PR. He has also acted as PR consultancy to a number of small businesses, and is a qualified staff trainer. He first became actively involved in the Internet when he designed a Web site for his local golf club - http://www.wsmgolfclub.fsnet.co.uk. His first commercial site was http://www.theshopping-centre.co.uk, but he decided his prime interest had always been sales, marketing and training, so he launched Develop Your Web Site and Yourself in June 2000.