Answering phones

The best way to answer your phone if it's both for business and personal use is "professionally." If you must use your home phone as a business phone, restrict others from using it during business hours. Record a professional message on your voicemail. And use Caller ID to screen incoming calls.

When you do answer, just use your name - "Mary Smith," or your business name - rather than just answering, "Hello."

These should be temporary solutions. Bona fide businesses need a dedicated business line.