Meet Founder of The Homeworker magazine, Louise Goss

Today, we’re welcoming Louise from The Homeworker magazine! Louise Goss is the founder and editor of The Homeworker magazine, a new publication that promotes a healthy mind, body and business when you work from home. As a professional journalist, Louise has worked across TV, radio and print in national and international newsrooms. She founded The Homeworker magazine after the birth of her second child, to help support and provide a reassuring and inspirational resource for people who work from home. 

Hi Louise! Please can you introduce your business to us…

The Homeworker magazine is a quarterly publication that provides expert advice and tips for those who work from home. It covers articles on business, productivity, mindset, wellbeing and your home workspace to help you achieve a better work-life balance.

It’s an uplifting and inspirational magazine offering real-life insights into the realities of homeworking. It’s a source of information, inspiration and support on both a practical and emotional level when you work alone at home.

What inspired you to start your business?

The idea for The Homeworker magazine began when I became aware of how many small, home-based businesses and self-employed people there are; all these wonderfully talented and creative individuals that we’re often unaware of. It was this ‘hidden economy’ of workers that I wanted to help support, particularly as I have been self-employed for most of my career.

I’ve worked as a freelancer and as a business owner at home, and I’ve experienced the transition of office work to home-based work and know how challenging it can be.  Along with the freedom and flexibility, I was acutely aware of how working from home means you’re more likely to experience loneliness. I understand how in tough times, it can be hard to gain perspective, feel motivated and remain focused, especially without a team around you or colleagues holding you accountable. I saw in my own practices how easily I could procrastinate, become distracted by housework, family members and social media. I am also a passionate advocate for self-care and making sure you look after your physical and mental health.

Knowing all this, I realised there didn’t seem to be a platform that offered not just advice but a sense of connection and community for those who work from home. 

When looking for a new direction after the birth of my second child and a big overseas move, I was deciding how I could best use my skills as a journalist and my love of telling stories and design. A magazine seemed to be the obvious vehicle that could also cover all these different aspects of business, wellness and lifestyle.

Where and how do you work best?

I used to have my own home office but currently have a small work area in our sitting room. I tend to spread out in the kitchen as well! I work on days that I have childcare and will often migrate to a coffee shop at least once a week. I like to surround myself with a bit of buzz and to feel part of society again. Working out of the home also allows me to not get distracted by things such as laundry, dishes and housework! 

I often end up working on smaller admin tasks in the evening after the children are in bed, particularly if they’ve been at home with me all day, but I do my most productive work first thing. If I have the day to myself, I get out, do a run and then get down to it! 

We are planning a house move in the near future and one of the criteria for the next home is for me to have my own office space again.

What value do you hope to bring to your readers? How do you hope your work makes them feel?

I’ve had some wonderful feedback from readers of the magazine saying that it is a really valuable resource, something that they use as a guide to refer to and even make notes from. 

The magazine articles extract some of the best wisdom and experience from experts and other homeworkers to give readers valuable tips and ideas as well as a sense of connection and community. I hope it helps them feel empowered, more confident and ready to fulfil their potential.

It is a reassuring voice, something that lets you know you’re not alone with the thoughts, feelings, fears and doubts that often surface when you work alone. I’ve had feedback that it is a very calming read, which I think comes not just from the content but also the design.

How do you hope to be Unedited in your business? How do you seek to be authentic and true in your work?

This is very important to me. I am a homeworker. I run a business from home and I’ve worked as a freelancer and been self-employed for several years. For the most part, I am on the same journey as many of the readers. I offer my own insights and can write from personal experience, but I ask questions that I know readers want answered because I have often wondered the same thing.

I’ll occasionally share glimpses of my personal life and little things which have happened in my day related to working from home. I’ll go live and record videos without makeup after coming back from a run because that’s the reality of working from home too.

Authenticity helps forge connections and eventually, any untruth is either found out or becomes unsustainable on your part.

The nature of what I write about tends to be real, raw, messy; the chaotic juggle of work and life with few boundaries and lots of demands on our time. The magazine helps to bring a sense of calm and order while still being realistic. (For example, we’re not suggesting five hours of yoga a day and only drinking green juice to stay productive and healthy but we can talk about quick exercises and effective ways to fit in a workout while you have limited time at your desk).  I hope to reflect this reality while striking a balance of good design, and quality, well-written content.

What’s been the biggest high of your business journey so far?

It’s hard to pick out one moment. The magazine is still relatively new so the launch of each issue is always a big high. The launch of the first issue is most memorable as it was the realisation of an idea and to see that come to life was really special. 

Since then, I’ve met, interviewed and collaborated with some amazing people and brands. That aspect of my job means there is a regular stream of new highs!

What was your greatest fear when you started your business?

That nobody would read it.

When you launch something new, you never know exactly what the reaction will be. I spent a lot of time and energy generating concepts, preparing content and figuring out the design aspects. There’s always that fear that you could be wasting your time and that people will judge harshly. I have to say, luckily, those fears were unfounded but different fears crop up as you go through different stages of your business.

How do you overcome self doubt as a small business owner?

It is always there.

I have to remind myself of a few things.

First, I’ve experienced self-doubt many times throughout my life. Each time that it has stopped me from doing something, I have regretted not taking action. I have to remember the cliché: feel the fear and do it anyway. When I’ve pushed myself, I’ve been rewarded and have grown as a result.

Self-doubt, for me, is a form of protection and resistance. I often find myself asking: “What is the worst that could happen?” Usually, it’s some form of rejection or judgement. There are a lot of, “What if…?” questions so I try to turn that around so instead of thinking: “What if they say, ‘no’?” I think: “What if they say, ‘yes’?”

Something that might sound morbid, but definitely helps me take action when doubt creeps in, is to remember my mortality. It’s a way to put things in perspective when you think about how life can be short and you need to make everyday count.

On a positive, reading testimonials and feedback from readers helps a lot as well. It’s very encouraging and helps keep the self-doubt in check.

Louise is supporting a ‘hidden economy’ of workers by creating a community around The Homeworker magazine.

How do you make sure to have time for yourself as a business owner?

This is a challenge for me, as I know it is for many business owners, particularly those who are parents. In order to get time to myself, I often have to negotiate! I’ll arrange with my husband to get a bit of time to myself but it’s hard not to use spare time to work. I have to remind myself that there’s always work to be done and having some time off lets me return more refreshed and energised.

I prioritise going for a run or a walk first thing, if I have childcare. I can also use this time to listen to a podcast or just some music. I won’t check emails before I’m ready to start work for the day so that time in the morning is my own. That way, I can enjoy my shower or a cup of tea without having my headspace already dictated by somebody else’s questions or requirements.

Importantly, I’ll make the most of brief moments I get to myself throughout the day. Realistically, I don’t get hours to myself to meditate or pamper myself so these small snapshots can sustain me for quite a while. 

Finally, if you could give one piece of advice to a new Unedited business owner what would it be?

Keep taking action. At the beginning, that’s the only way you can learn and discover what’s right or wrong for you and what gets results. We can so often be held back by fear of failing but not fearing  the mistakes helps you to keep taking steps and making progress. 

I would also say to be really honest with yourself about what it is you want to do and where your passions lie. That’s what will help ensure you have the stamina to keep taking action even when things don’t happen as you expect or want them to.

You can find Louise at @TheHomeworkerMag or over at thehomeworker.com. You can subscribe to The Homeworker magazine for just £18/year and trust me when I say – it’s well worth a read!

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