

Glen Mollett is the author of 13 books including Uncommom Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.
The demonstrated success of working remotely means that independent workers will be key to the future of work, even as many people return to in-person office settings.
To thrive both professionally and personally, independent workers need support and tools to promote their skills and manage their business.
An online platform known as Indy provides these features and more. Indy offers a complete productivity suite that helps independent workers take the management of their businesses to the next level, with tools and guidance for creating contracts, generating invoices, and everything in between. Additionally, their blog, The Independent Worker, is focused on addressing topics of interest to freelancers, ranging from business development to managing burnout.
"We proudly empower today's 'Indies' - including solopreneurs, freelancers, consultants, contractors, microbusinesses and side hustlers - to streamline the most time-consuming parts of operating their businesses. We help them work smarter, get paid faster, and thrive," says Sebastian Gyr, CEO and co-founder of Indy.
The Indy app offers freelancers a suite of tools designed to help them own three key aspects of their business: :
Indy takes pride in empowering an inclusive and diverse community of freelancers, including the LGBTQ community, Black Americans, BIPOC, and workers with disabilities, who are often underserved in the workplace despite the recent rise in equity initiatives. Leaning into these tenets, Indy recently launched a new, digital series called 'Miss Independent' featuring a Black drag queen who offers short videos commenting on freelancing and the freelancing life.
"We're spotlighting what's currently missing for today's virtual workforce and are boldly embracing the opportunity to drive conversations and narratives around equitable pay, diversity, and inclusion, by enabling the success of all workers, especially those from underserved communities," according to the company.
"We celebrate the uniqueness of those human beings that we serve by providing the products, services, space, and the megaphone for them to be their authentic selves, shine, and thrive."
Visit weareindy.com for more information and to create an account for free.
Not everyone has a dedicated home office, but since WFH is here to stay, now is the time to create a quiet and comfortable workspace in your home. Your ultimate goal is to create and customize an efficient work space where you can also enjoy working.
Some favor a Spartan and minimalistic space free of visual distractions. Others will want to fill it with their favorite artwork, sports memorabilia, two or three additional monitors - one for watching sports, of course - a beer fridge ... you name it.
The best thing about a home office, is it is YOUR office. There’s no reason not to personalize it and make it a great place to work, right? After all, it is in your home, you can decorate it the way you want.
Over time, play around with lighting, colors, and furniture to find the ultimate setup for the space you have to work with in your abode. Redecorate when you budget and schedule allows it. You could be working in a cool space like one these home offices below. Here are some creative spaces and places to consider.
FRESH & MINIMAL
Photograph: Rebecca McAlpin
If you're able to use a whole room as a workspace, it can be outfitted fully with custom built-ins and decorated in appropriate style.
Lisa Michael Interiors juxtaposes crisp white-painted hardwood cabinetry with navy-blue nautically inspired wallpaper and accessories in this shipshape Boca Raton home office. Visit www.hardwoodinfo.com for more about putting American hardwoods to work in your home.
In a Philadelphia house, designer Mel McDaniel uses three beech desktops, purchased at a local big-box store, to turn an alcove into a simple but effective workspace for two people. Vintage chairs, painted white, and a pair of residential table lamps complete the homey yet professional look.
OFFICE IN A CLOSET
Photograph: Alan Tansey
For many homeowners, finding sufficient space for a dedicated office is a problem. One solution, even in a small apartment, is to transform a closet with hardwood built-ins. Michael K Chen Architecture shows how it’s done with this admirably compact yet surprisingly roomy example in a New York loft.
Photograph: Paul Barnaby
If you live in a multistory house, you may have a dark space under the stairs that could be made to look and function better. In Los Angeles, Hamilton Architects transform one such triangle into a bright home office with a built-in hardwood desk and a strategically placed window.
Photograph: Eric Roth
As Hutker Architects and designer Kathleen Walsh demonstrate in this farmhouse on Martha’s Vineyard, the height-challenged space under the eaves in an attic can be the ideal spot for a substantial work surface. Dormer windows bathe the custom oak-and-steel desk with daylight while also providing a view.
THE FULLY FITTED OFFICE
Photograph: Jessica Glynn Photography @jessglynnphoto
If you’re able to use a whole room as a workspace, it can be outfitted fully with custom built-ins and decorated in appropriate style. Lisa Michael Interiors juxtaposes crisp white-painted hardwood cabinetry with navy-blue nautically inspired wallpaper and accessories in this shipshape Boca Raton home office. Visit www.hardwoodinfo.com for more about putting American hardwoods to work in your home.