Try to involve your family in your work wherever and whenever possible. It will reap rewards on many fronts.

Consultants are a different lot. We are often loners when it comes to our careers. We usually don't have many (or any) co-workers and spend much of our time with clients and prospects. Our spouses and children often don't know how to describe what we do other than to say that we are in "consulting".

Try getting the family involved. Here are a handful of ways:
1. Take them to an industry tradeshow. There are always interesting booths, displays, giveaways and social/networking events.
2. Enlist their (paid) services to help you with mailings, filing, cleaning, editing, scheduling appointments, anything.
3. Ask them to review and provide their input into key reports or letters before sending ... especially the important stuff.

Result: Often some great insights can be gleaned from enlisting the assistance of an informed family. You will be surprised at the dividends that involving them in your work will pay.

Source: institute of Management Consultants – USA