Entries Tagged 'Inspiration' ↓

Guest Blogger — Michelle at Secret Weapon Copywriting

Moms decide to work at home for many reasons. Some choose to work from home because they want to raise their children, watch them take their first steps, or lose their first tooth. While others leave to get out of the “rat race” or they want a change of pace. There are still others who leave the workforce because of a sick family member or personal illness. I was in the latter group.

Seven years ago, I had to make a very hard decision. I had to leave my job of 13 years for health reasons. As the doctor put it “If you stay I think you won’t make it.”  He didn’t need to spell things out for me. I made a choice—it was far better to be alive and jobless than to be dead.

Though I made my decision, I had to adjust to my new role—and it was difficult. Emotionally I went through periods of anger, frustration, and despair. I lost my sense of self wondering who am I? What is my purpose?

 Mistake 1: Loss Of Identity

For over 13 years, my job had defined who I was. I was Michelle the caseworker and then Michelle the Adult Protective Services Supervisor. My identity was so intertwined with the roles I performed or the title I carried. Once I no longer had a job—I lost my identity.

In hindsight, I realize that was a mistake. Yet at the time, I didn’t realize it was a pattern I would soon repeat. During the first few months of being a work-at-home mom, I dove into writing which I had dibbled and dabbled in over the years. I had even gotten a few articles published on the web. Now I needed to try to earn a living at it. I wanted to establish my new identity as a writer.

Mistake 2: Defined By Rejection

I sent articles and stories out to editors and each submission was met with a rejection. Some editors were nice about it while others were very harsh. Since I was thin skinned each rejection was like a mortal blow. My self-confidence was holding on by a thread, and each rejection unraveled it more.

I felt like a total failure. For a time I stopped writing. I gave up. Why? Because I believed the rejections defined who I was. I believed I was a failed writer. I believed my new identity was failure.

Many women make this same mistake. They define themselves according to the role that they fulfill or the job they perform. When their status changes often times, they’re left wondering who they are. You may have experienced something similar.

Solution 1: Know Who You Are

So how do you establish your right identity? For me, it was to find out who I really was. I was more than the person who worked for the City of New York for 13 years. I was more than the woman who was now at home collecting disability. I was more than the writer with a drawer full of rejection notices.

I had to make a decision. Did these notices define who I was? I chose to accept that rejection notices were events that happened—they were experiences I had—things I lived through. And challenges that I had to rise above. I took a deep breath and decided to join a few writers groups. I took up a few writing classes and put my shoulder to the wheel.

I was still scared but I had to find courage by pushing past fear. Now I am still learning and growing in my craft but who I am is no longer defined by what I do. I am persevering, determined, and creative. What I do is write.

Solution 2: Get What You Need To Succeed

If you need to more knowledge to hone your skills, run your business, or to establish yourself then seek it out. If you need personal tutoring then find a coach. If you need business help—find a forum or group that will enable you to reach your goals. But don’t define yourself by what you do this would be a mistake. You’re so much more.

Maintain

Who you are is not what you do. You are a woman of vision, determination, and perseverance—and what you do is work from home. Keep yourself on the success track remind yourself of this daily!

About The Author:
Michelle J. Dyett-Welcome is a SEO Copywriter/Ghostwriter. She can be contacted at: michelle (at) Secretweaponcopywriting.com http://www.secretweaponcopywriting.com

Part of the reason I’ve been sort of MIA on my blog lately is because I’ve been pregnant! I just had my second beautiful baby boy and couldn’t be more in love. Working online, however, has become even more challenging! I now work from home with a 2.5 year old and a newborn.

I never would have thought it in a million years, but having a newborn in the house again has forced me to be even more wise with my time. I’m getting more done than ever before, and in less time! I do it because I have to. There simply is no other option.

For example, I’m a writer, so I write. A lot. In the past 2 weeks I have written 8 ebooks of at least 5,000 words! No, I don’t work all day long In fact, I usually have around 2 or 3 hours to work each day — sometimes not even that.

Here are a few time management secrets that help me get all of this done while still earning a very nice income:

• 15 minutes is more than enough time to take a chunk out of a project. Get rid of the mindset that you need hours at a time. That’s just an excuse!
• When the stars align and you find that all of your children are asleep or otherwise occupied, close those time-waster forums and GET STUFF DONE
• Make sure you are making the most of your time. Do you have a short term business plan? A long term business plan?
• Work like MAD to ensure everything gets done — 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. Tweak what your doing so those results get better and better

I don’t pretend to have it all together, but I am extremely proud of myself for getting as much done as I am. I’m releasing new products (like Freelance for the Web), re-releasing older products (like Power Ghostwriting), and ghostwriting.

In short, life is great, so I’ve got to make the most of my time

I’m right in the middle of reading Seth Godin’s book, “Purple Cow” and it has already dramatically changed the way I plan on approaching my business.

If you think about all the products and services that are available today, it’s no wonder that it can be so hard to stand out these days. You struggle with project after project, but your hard work just does not pay off.

So, what’s the difference between those who are successful and those who are not? It’s the fact that they are doing something remarkable to stand out. What are you doing that is remarkable?

More of my thoughts on this when I finish this book!

Flickr Photo by triciaward

I’m going to start off this Sarah Palin post by saying that I have yet to decide who I’m voting for for president.  I’m also not a “feminist” in the strict sense of the word – meaning, my reason for voting for the Republican duo wouldn’t be because I desperately need a woman as close to the White House as possible.  Even so, I find Sarah Palin as the mom to be very inspirational.

Here is a woman who demonstrates that it is possible to be incredibly successful, yet she is able to raise her 5 children (one with Down’s Syndrome) at the same time.  While she’s certainly not living the work at home life style like the readers of this blog do or want to do, she is still an inspiration to those of us who wonder what is possible.

So while I’m not going to let the fact that she is a woman swing my vote one way or another, I can applaud because she has done great things.

Are you struggling to get started making money online?  It’s definitely understandable.  As a mom it is tough to know which end is up.  You start your day full of plans only to find that you just can’t seem to get anything done with those kiddos running around.

While no mom is perfect, it always helps me to look to people who are successful managing their time and their families.

I have a feeling that as the presidential election nears I’ll be looking more and more to Sarah Palin to see how she juggles it all.

I used to be an elementary school teacher.  Back then I was lucky if I could take a few minutes to go to the bathroom, let alone take a few days to go on vacation when I wanted.  This is just reason 2,349,343 that moms working at home have an awesome life.

Lazy days at the beach, hanging with my little boy…nothing could be better!  OK, I’ll admit that I did take my computer along to answer e-mails and make sure all was OK in the online world, but that doesn’t mean I was working my tail off.  The bottom line is that I got to stay in a very nice hotel and simply “just be.”

Are you to the point where you can take off and enjoy yourself whenever you want to?  What’s holding you back?  If the answer is, “my job,” are you content with that?  There are some people who adore working outside of the home.  They like the structure and having a boss to work under.  It’s go to work, complete your work, come home, and you’re done.

OR, are you the type of person who would rather work at home and be your own boss.  Are you the type that wants to be able to take off and vacation “whenever”.  Yes, it can be really tough and there is a lack of structure to contend with.  But the benefits can be really, really amazing.  I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

If you think you’re ready to start the work at home lifestyle, don’t hesitate to sign up for your free eBooks that will help you get started.

I come across many stay at home moms who aren’t even aware of the possibility that they can stay at home and earn money at the same time. They tend to think their only options are to work outside of the home, or stay at home and pinch pennies.

I’m here to tell you that stay at home moms working from home are more common than you think. More mommas than ever before are hopping on this trend, and with good reason. If you are tired of scraping by or you just need to bring in some extra income this is perfect for you.

First, you have to get rid of the doubts that are in your mind. I can’t tell you how many people are shocked and surprised that I can earn a living online. It’s still so new that many people think it’s impossible to earn online. It’s definitely not, and it’s never been easier to get started than it is today.

You need to do as much research as you possibly can to figure out the best at home job for you. I will also say that it’s much easier to start your own business than it is to work on growing someone else’s. The day I started marching to my own drummer was the day I started earning a full time income from home.

This post is meant to be an inspiration to you as much as anything else. I’m a stay at home mom working from home, so I know exactly how you feel. It’s scary to consider that you will need to return to work at leave your kids with a sitter, when what you really want to do is be with them. Working at home is the answer you need!

I’ve put together two free resources to help you get started. The first is “Instant Cash for WAHMS” and the second is “The WAHM Mindset.” Click to download free WAHM ebooks.

You’re always running here, there, and everywhere as a mom.  There are a million and one things that you do each day for your children, spouse, and pretty much everyone you come into contact with.  Work at home for moms allows you to have a little time for yourself too.

Don’t get me wrong, it is hard to manage a household and run a business at the same time.  You just have to keep in mind that you save a lot of time traveling and you can make your own hours. It is miraculous what a few extra hours in the day can do for you.

Work at home for moms gives you time to relax and enjoy life.  I’m so lucky because at any point I can decide to take my baby to the park, go off to eat lunch in the middle of the day with my husband, or “just veg.”  There are very few jobs that offer the same kind of flexiblity.

So, how are you doing?  Are you able to work from home yet?  If not, it’s probably something you’d love to do since you are here on this blog.  I remember being in your shoes, wondering how in the world I was going to be able to earn money from home.  I was lucky enough to find my way, and I want to help you find yours!

I want to help people get started, and actually that’s why I started this blog.  I’ve heard from far too many moms and other people that they have no idea how to be a work at home mom.  There are scams out there that are hard to avoid.

That’s why I’ve written these two free ebooks.  Sign up to receive them and hopefully I can hold your hand to help you reach online success.

Good luck!

Have you been hearing from your kids, “stay at home mom, work from home!” If you have been forced to work outside of your home the chances are good that the little ones miss you. It’s also probable that you’d rather work at home as well. It makes financial sense and sense from a childcare point of view. But is it possible?

The answer is definitely yes! There are many work at home moms who are currently running their own successful home business.

There is also no one right answer to what the right job for you is. It has to do with:

• The amount of time you have to spend on your businesses
• Your income goals
• Your computer efficiency (if you’re going to work online, a very viable option)
• Family dynamics
• Your personal drive
• Your organization and business skills

That might seem like a long list, but they are all things that you already possess, can figure out or can improve on . For instance, if you’re running here and there with no time to do your work you’ll have to shift your priorities time-wise. If you know that working at home can change yours and your children’s lives for the better, that’s definitely a factor that will increase your drive for success.

It can seem daunting right now, but there are an incredible number of work at home opportunities for you to take part in. In fact, if you’re currently working outside the home you can match your monthly income with a bit of elbow grease. The sky is the limit when it comes to having a work at home job.

Since you’ve made the choice to be your own boss you’ll never have to hear the heart-wrenching, “stay at home mom, work from home!” You will be right where your children need you and where you want to be.

If you want to get inspired, download

your two free ebooks here to get started as a WAHM

It’s great for the whole family when moms work at home. That’s not to say that every mom should, but if that’s the lifestyle you want it’s a great thing.
Here are some reasons why:

• Have your children ever called home during school because they forgot a project or a lunch bag? Children can be very forgetful. If you’re a work at home mom there is no problem at all bringing them what they forgot.
• Has your child had to stay home from school because he was sick? Kids catch all kinds of things from their peers. Instead of having to take off of work you don’t have to stress. When you’re your own boss there are no issues caring for your children when they need you.
• If you have a baby, you get to teach her every step of the way. Learning skills and literacy improve greatly when the mother is able to stay home and cater to the individual child’s needs.
• You can control your own income. Since you can own your own business as a work at home mom you can set and meet all kinds of income goals. Instead of stuffing a boss’ pockets with money, you work hard to provide a better life for your family.
• When you work at home, you can set your own vacation time. Instead of having to win a lottery among co-workers, you get to decide when you want to take off, and do it with no hassle at all.
• There is no reason you have to do the same thing each day. Whereas a day job ties you down to your desk at work, being your own boss at home means that you can develop multiple income streams. This will increase the profits you earn and keep you interested in the work you do.

There are, of course, many other reasons why it’s a great idea when moms work at home. What would working at home mean for you and your family? The chances are good that it would be a dream come true; a real blessing. It is very possible to be a work at home mom when you dedicate yourself and learn the tricks of the trade!

Don’t forget to download your free WAHM reports to get started today