Mompreneurs® Online - Sucess Secrets

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SUCCESS SECRETS FOR WORK-AT-HOME MOMS

By Patricia Cobe and Ellen H. Parlapiano
Authors of Mompreneurs® and Mompreneurs® Online
Founders, MompreneursOnline.com

Do Your Homework. It’s essential to gather as much information as you can about your business to see if your idea will fly. Research similar businesses, unearth your competition and see how much they’re charging, and figure out your target market. Use books, go to trade shows and conferences, and surf the Internet to conduct your “sleuthing.”

Get the Support of Your Family. No doubt about it—working and living under the same roof is going to interfere with your family’s dynamics. A supportive spouse or significant other is very important to your success—not only to help you juggle the responsibilities of work and parenting, but to build up your confidence and boost your spirits when things don’t go smoothly. Your children’s support is crucial too. If they’re old enough, have a family meeting and discuss how your home-based business is going to impact your family life, and how it will eventually be a great benefit. Extend the message to your parents, in-laws and other relatives as well.

Have a Nest Egg. You’ll need some savings to bolster cash flow before the business gets going. If you have been contributing to your household income with a regular paycheck, and decide to try the work-from-home option, your income will take a major nosedive for at least several months. We suggest you have a nest egg of 6 months income to draw on for financial security.

Write a Mission Statement. Just a few short sentences defining your business and your goals is all that’s needed at first. State what your business involves, what makes it unique, and where you would like to be in 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year from now (including the money you hope you’ll be making). Remember, this is a flexible statement that can and should change frequently.

Set a Work Schedule. It’s important to set office hours and stick to them as best you can. Sure, your hours will vary from day to day and revolve around your kids’ schedules. But if you set time boundaries for your home business, it will be easier to give family and work demands their equal due.

Carve out a Workspace. Ideally, we’d all have state-of-the-art home offices in rooms devoted exclusively to our work-from-home endeavors. But in reality, moms often have to work in a corner of the family room, basement, or kitchen. Wherever you set up shop, make sure you have a desk area, storage space, and supplies that are yours and yours alone.

Don’t be Timid About Negotiating Fees. Know your value and tell yourself that your product or service is worth what you’re asking. Don’t price yourself out of the market, but don’t sell yourself short either. Check around and be competitive, perhaps quoting a range of fees for each job you’re offered. After a few tries, you’ll gain confidence and find negotiating a bit easier.

Homebased Doesn’t Mean Housebound. Get out now and then to network with colleagues in similar businesses, exchange ideas with other mom s who have home businesses, or simply meet a friend for coffee. Try to join one professional organization related to the work you do, and attend local chapter meetings, a conference, or a trade show. We know that participating in online chats and message boards can really help combat the isolation of working from home, but occasional face-to-face interaction is very valuable.

Don’t Forget to Laugh! When you work at home, madcap yet maddening events can occur. Take, for example, the time Ellen attempted to do a phone interview with then two-year-old Amy underfoot. Amy ran off with her pen and notepad, and then managed to disconnect the telephone mike—a crushing fact Ellen discovered later, when she attempted to transcribe the tape and heard 30 minutes of complete silence! You can prevent such disasters by setting the kids up with a DVD, computer game or special “phone” toys and then hightailing if off the phone fast! Better yet, plan extended phone calls and meetings for times when a family member or friend can lend a hand with childcare. Maybe you can even line up a neighborhood mother’s helper a few mornings or afternoons a week, so you can focus exclusively on work while kids are well-supervised.

You Can’t Have it All, but You Can Control What You Have! Freedom of choice is what mompreneurship is all about! You can decide which projects you take and when you’re going to work on them. And if you need to run to the pediatrician’s or leave your desk for the preschool parade, you don’t have to ask anyone for permission. You may find yourself working at nights or on weekends from time to time, but you’ll be the one making that decision. The benefit of mompreneurship is that you can design your business around your family’s needs!