I've been a telecommuter for the last 4 years. The key to being successful is learning to say no and having an office with a door. Working from the couch with a

I've been a telecommuter for the last 4 years. The key to being successful is learning to say no and having an office with a door. Working from the couch with a laptop doesn't work -- you have to be out of sight of the rest of the family. You also have to learn to say no when they ask for your attention during those trips to the bathroom, or the fridge. Eventually they will realize that you are working. That being said, I do usually eat lunch with the family, or at least not in the office. It gives me a chance to let my mind relax and sometimes come up with a new way of looking at whatever problem I'm working on.