Flirting

April 15th, 2010

Do you ever flirt with being an employee? You fellow work at home moms, do you ever think about how nice it would be to just punch the time clock, have someone else to “report” to who can make the hard decisions, have your responsibilities clearly defined in an employee handbook somewhere? Once in a while, I have those days. Yes, even though it feels so good to do what I do, there are some days when going back to being an employee seems appealing.

Any harm done in gazing over the fence occasionally to check the grass color? Anything wrong with daydreaming about the patches of green that surely are there? Only, I think, if I let that derail me. If I spent hours of time at it, I would later be frustrated beyond belief by the consequences of that time usage. After all, I CAN return to the corporate world if I so choose and the choice is mine.

So if it’s truly a consideration, all I have to do is (mentally) put myself there for a brief period of time. I wouldn’t be at home right now. I’d be doing someone else’s bidding on their schedule. I would have to answer to others (in addition to myself). How does that feel? No thanks. My independent streak bristles at the very thought.

This exercise works for me. You can do the same thing if you’re contemplating the transition from employee to work at home mom, just reverse the tables. Imagine yourself working at home. How does it feel? You probably don’t have enough particulars to think about what it would look like. Just focus on the feeling. Go ahead – flirt with being a work at home mom ;-) .

0 Comments | Categories: Before Working at Home, Working at Home

If I Can Have It, So Can You

April 12th, 2010

I have the kind of home-based business where I get to offer the same benefits I enjoy to others. And I feel as though it is incumbent upon me to share the gift of this opportunity, so that other moms can work at home, provide for their families, have better health, serve others and make a difference in the world, and enjoy a community of support in their professional lives.

Wow – when I try to look at it from the outside, it almost sounds too good to be true. Can one woman with nonmom skills and a mother’s heart really have all that? Well, regardless of how it sounds, I’m living proof that it IS true. And if it can be true for me, it can be true for you!

0 Comments | Categories: Home-Based Business, Working at Home

How Will Your Work at Home be Perceived by Others?

March 31st, 2010

There was a period of time in my work at home mom tenure when I was very self-conscious about what other people thought of my career choice. Especially other professional people. It wasn’t so much the being at home…I mean, who could disdain a mother’s desire to be with her children?

It was more the foray into network marketing…an often misunderstood and often under-appreciated business model. It wasn’t even considered a valid business model by some. I was affected by these perceptions of other people, and I know of other work at home moms and would-be WAHMs in the same boat. For myself personally, I find it tinged with sad humor in retrospect. The advance of home-based business is now touted as a driving market force, and it has been a wonderful fit for me.

But I think there are still some professional women out there who are stymied by this old stigma. To them, I would say: do your due diligence. Educate yourself on the current state of business affairs among the forward-thinking. Be careful who you allow to be your “who saids” (who you listen to in forming your self-picture). And then remember these wise words from a man who is the Director of International Business Development for a highly successful network marketing company: “Any major change is ridiculed, opposed and then becomes self-evident it would happen anyway.”

1 Comment | Categories: Before Working at Home, Home-Based Business, Working at Home

Feels So Good

March 26th, 2010

When you have your own home-based business as a work at home mom, the failure or success of your undertakings rests heavily on your own efforts, your own initiative, your own motivation and your own ideas. Sure, this can feel a little heavy sometimes. But what a great venue for creativity. And it feels SO good to come up with a home run in any of those categories. So, so good. ;-)

0 Comments | Categories: Home-Based Business, Inspiration

A Mother’s Heart

March 16th, 2010

While most of my posts focus on the logistics of working at home, there is nothing to write about today other than a mother’s heart.

You see, my oldest son is home for a week of spring break. He’s a college freshman who choose a wonderful institution of higher learning that is 1/2 way across the country. We covet the rare time we get to spend with him – and that time is now.

I feel SO blessed to be the CEO of my own home-based business such that my self-designated time off can coincide with his. It makes this mother’s heart very happy!

0 Comments | Categories: Family, Home-Based Business, Motherhood

Independence & Teamwork

March 12th, 2010

Most any work at home mom with a home-based business would probably consider herself an independent worker. I know I do. I was the fifth grader who wanted to do the “work with a partner” project solo, because then I knew it would be done right and right away. Nor did I go for “study groups” in college or grad school.

So I was actually kind of surprised to find how much I enjoy and appreciate the team business support inherent in my business model. Each team member has her (or his) own business in the same field, but we aren’t really competitors and we are connected by a common business mentor. I applaud the success of my team members which in no way diminishes my own accomplishments, which are, in turn, also celebrated by the team (see the previous post for an example).

Seems to be a good marriage of independence and teamwork, doesn’t it?

0 Comments | Categories: Home-Based Business, Inspiration, Working at Home

Highlight of the Week

March 6th, 2010

One of the things my business support team does every week is have each person share a highlight with the group – often it’s a business highlight, but not always. It might be a strong business week, a change in perspective that better equips us to move forward, something we particularly enjoyed or whatever seems like a highlight to us.

My highlight this week? Having something I really believe in to share with three people who happened to cross my path with particular needs this week. Something to make their lives better. Love that feeling of doing well (financially) by doing good (for others).

1 Comment | Categories: Home-Based Business, Inspiration

Books for Us Women with Professional NonMom Skills and a Mother’s Heart

March 1st, 2010

Wow, where did last week go? I had a couple of atypical days, and the week just flew by. I know that I rely on routine to keep in check the various demands of being a work at home mom. So, when the routine isn’t there, things like blog posting don’t always get done ;-) .

But there is an upside to being out of the routine — getting to do some fun things not usually on the schedule! Like browse in the book store. Yep, I spent part of one afternoon killing time at the mall, and my first choice is the business/entrepreneurship/self-motivation aisle of the large book retailer (it really is my fave place to shop!).

Anyway, I scanned shelf after shelf of titles, looking for something that would speak specifically to me as a professional woman who chooses to work at home. I pulled one promising hard cover little book with appealing colors off the shelf, but the conversation about being a working mother, a career mom, didn’t fit the bill. Some other titles promised insight into women in business, but again, they didn’t seem to be quite on target for me. I ended up buying a book on social media (can’t seem to leave a bookstore empty handed!), but wondering if there ARE any books like the one I was looking for. Perhaps most of the written word on this topic is online, since the internet is often a big part of our success. Have you found any ‘hold in your hands’ books specifically for us women with professional NonMom skills and a mother’s heart?!

0 Comments | Categories: Home-Based Business, Uncategorized, Working at Home

What Works for TeleWork Works for This Work at Home Mom

Feb 20th, 2010

I saw an article recently about telework programs (for employers) and how to make them successful. Several of the principles suggested for implementing telework made me think of my own home-based business and what helps make it successful:

- establish policies and procedures Yes, they are essential- just as much, if not more essential, for a business run from home. In order to maintain professionalism, in order to make the most of your valuable time, and in order to keep your sanity, having office policies and procedures are wonderful. Now, they may develop organically rather than being in place (and imposed from the outside) right from the beginning, but that’s OK. That will actually allow you to develop the best policies and procedures for your particular work at home situation.

- provide training and support This is something that may not be available in every home-based situation, but it is in mine and I’m very grateful for it. It allows me to be in business for myself, but not by myself. Another possibility would be to look for a mentor in your business field.

- provide an on-call coach or support group This is very similar to the previous principle. I love having free access to my very own business coach, who knows my business intimately AND whose help rewards her as well as me (talk about an incentive to be a great coach!). Even if it’s not built into your business model, there are great business coaches available.

- be willing to recalibrate and adjust the program as needed SO true. Just as in organically developing policies and procedures, a home-based business owner will thrive if she can adapt and overcome.

- foster team building in innovative ways (to replace “hallway and water cooler chat”) Part of the training and support I mention above is done in a team environment in my business model, and that exchange of ideas and the camaraderie it offers is priceless. Again, if this isn’t inherent in your home-based business model, I would encourage you to seek it out (perhaps through Chamber of Commerce or Business Networking activity).

Sure feels good to see my work at home mom positioning lauded as a model for successful work at home ventures! If your work at home seems to be missing something, maybe seeking to fill in one or more of these ideas can help. And if you pursue telework as an employee, look for these hallmarks of a successful program.

1 Comment | Categories: Home-Based Business, Working at Home

Did You Always?

Feb 11th, 2010

Did you always plan to take the world by storm?
Did you always know you could be a professional success?
Did you always figure you would rise to the top in your field?

Did you leave it all in the dust to be at home with your kids?

Are you looking for somewhere, someplace, somehow to honor that planning, knowing and figuring? I found that where, that place, and that how! And I would love to share with you what I’ve found…if it’s of interest, let me know.

0 Comments | Categories: Family, Working at Home