Home Based
Help Articles
Be
Clear about Your Goals
by Tammy Harrison
Why do you want to work from home? Do you
know for sure?
I have been seeing and reading a lot of
information about why a woman would want to
work from home, and it has really made me
sit down and take notes about the real
reasons I have a home-based business.
Before going from a job outside of the
home, to working from home, it is very
important that you have some clear goals in
mind, as well as your motivation behind
those goals. Without knowing where you are
and where you would like to go, you may fall
into some of the stereotypical routines that
befall (and fail) many home-based working
moms.
Below are some suggestions for why you
want a home-based business:
(1) Financial
(2) Creative outlet
(3) Remain in the competitive marketplace
(4) Boredom
(5) Entrepreneurial spirit
(6) Enjoy the challenges
(7) Retirement
(8) Friendship and networking
(9) You want to own something of your own
(10) To raise your children
Now, create your own list of why you want
to work from home, in order of importance to
you. Then, with that list, get a bit more
personal and open your list up to explain
what it is you will have to do to achieve
those goals. And, if you reach your goals,
what's next?
It is very important for women,
especially, to balance their personal and
professional lives. Make sure that you are
moving toward your idea of a balanced life
without compromising your values, morals,
children, relationships or yourself. It is
very easy to under-achieve or over-achieve
when you are working out of your home --
but, it is the continual review of your path
and goals that will keep you feeling and
being all that you want to be!
(c) 2003 by Tammy Harrison. Tammy is
the mother of four and the Independent
Creative Representative for HBWM.com,
Inc. Click
here to contact Tammy.
Being
Successful at ANY Job Requires Passion
by Tammy Harrison
I was responding to yet another desperate
plea for help the other day, when I realized
that people really do NOT take enough time
to chose a home-based business.
How can that be?
One day you just wake up and say,
"Hmmm, I think I'll quit my job and
work from home." The next day you have
jumped into something that you have no idea
about!
This is NOT the way to find success from
home. In fact, you are setting yourself up
for failure if that is the way you go about
making such a major decision.
What do you like to DO? That is the major
question that you need to ask yourself, and
you truly need to take at LEAST a month to
figure out your likes and dislikes, before
you make a career change or start a business
that is doomed before you even get started.
Two resources that may help you along the
way are "The Work-at-Home
Workbook", written by HBWM Founder
& Director, Lesley Spencer; and Marci
Taub's "Interview Yourself for Working
Moms: a guided journal". Both books are
excellent ways to document your life, career
and business goals.
The former is only available through
Mom's Work-at-Home Kit (http://www.momsworkathomekit.com),
but this workbook alone will save you more
time and money than any other resource
available. It is a true workbook, with
page-upon-page of ideas, information and
tools so that you can choose the home-based
job that is right for you, as well as
information about how to set up your
business and how to grow it to success.
Ms. Taub’s book is just what a female
soul needs to find oneself, as well as to
move forward and grow to, and with our own
goals and expectations. The confidence that
can be gained by being secure in your
strengths and weaknesses helps move through
whatever situations we put upon ourselves in
our lives. Be it trying to maintain a career
while mothering your children, or being the
best mom you can be – this journal will
help you find you.
Over the course of a month, I want you to
keep a list of the things you like to do. I
do not care what those things are, from
grocery shopping to talking on the phone to
walking the dog. Write down EVERYTHING you
do that you enjoy.
At the end of that month, look through
your list and identify five of the things as
your favorite activities.
Only after you have compiled your
top-five list are you truly able to find the
home-based business that will work for you,
and that will offer you a fighting chance to
become successful at.
Do you enjoy shopping? Look into becoming
a secret shopper. Do you like to cook? What
about being a personal chef? Are you
interested in decorating? What about working
as a salesperson for one of the many at-home
business opportunities that offer decorating
products?
There are loads of books available that
can tell you how to find success as a
home-based working mom. But, the only true
way to know that you are going to be
successful is to know yourself, know what
brings you joy and to know how to turn those
passions into a fulfilling and fruitful
home-based career.
(c) 2003 by Tammy Harrison. Tammy is
the mother of four and the Independent
Creative Representative for HBWM.com,
Inc. Click
here to contact Tammy.
Call
Me: Telephone Tips for Working at Home
by Tammy Harrison
While talking on the phone, be it to
clients, other publishers or friends; I find
that our conversation has a way of taking us
from the meat of the discussion to how one
balances life by working from home. Just
today, while visiting with a man who has
made the move from his home-office to an
office outside of his home, he inevitably
heard my kids in the living room (“The
alligators, Mom! We have to jump from the
sofa to the chairs because if we step on the
floor, the alligators will get us.”).
I was apologetic, but not embarrassed. It’s
a thing that happens, especially when you
work from home! Why be ashamed? I chose this
lifestyle, and I take the good with the bad!
I always tell people, before I ever pick up
the telephone, that my kids are here and
they are right beside me. I’d be happy to
discuss anything they want, as long as they
understand that we may get interrupted by an
ear-piercing scream from the baby, or a
giggle or two from the others.
So many times I read and hear that
children should NEVER be present when a
professional telephone call is in progress.
I ask you, why? Now, I do agree that there
are some clients I prefer to talk to when I
have quiet around me. But, those are few and
far between.
There is basic telephone etiquette when
you work from home, so be sure that you and
the other party understand what is necessary
when talking on the phone:
1. Always be professional, even if the
kids are doing what kids do.
2. If you cannot talk to someone without
major background noises, email them first,
so that they understand what is going on in
your home-office.
3. Realize the attention span of your
children. Little ones are good for about
three minutes, so be aware that you need to
have a short, direct and efficient
conversation.
4. Have something at hand, at all times, for
the kids to do. If they interrupt you, take
a minute to quietly get their attention onto
something besides bothering you, and proceed
with your business.
5. Have hand signals, or some way for the
kids to know that you are on the phone and
you’d appreciate them being quiet.
6. Be sure to take the time, after you’ve
finished talking on the telephone, to spend
a few minutes with your children. Praise
them for allowing you to talk on the phone,
and then give them your full attention.
7. Ask your kids, before you get on the
phone, if they want to do something or if
they need you for anything.
8. Let your voicemail pick up, if you cannot
have a professional conversation. It’s
much easier to return a call than it is to
make a bad impression, especially if the
calling party doesn’t understand what
working from home entails.
9. Do not spend hours on the telephone,
especially at one sitting.
10. Give your children more time than you do
your business, especially those who are home
with you all the time.
Working from home is a gift and a
blessing, as are your children. As long as
you take adequate time for both, you will be
able to find a way that enhances both your
kids, your family and your business
decisions!
(c) 2003 by Tammy Harrison. Tammy is
the mother of four and the Independent
Creative Representative for HBWM.com,
Inc. Click
here to contact Tammy.
Constructing
a Business
by Tammy Harrison
We live in a log house. The logs were cut
and prepared in central Missouri and shipped
here for construction. Before the logs were
put into place, a foundation was poured out
of concrete. After the logs were set,
windows, doors and all of the interior
features were added. This is, basically, the
same process that you would use to build a
traditional house.
And, it is the same process you would use
to build your home-based business. You start
with the land for your house. There is a
piece of ground, somewhere, that you search
for. When you find it, you usually have a
feeling that a simple piece of ground is the
place you've dreamed about for your new
home. In constructing your business, this is
also your dream of working from home.
Then you begin researching what type of
business you want to do. Will it be sales?
Will it be virtual assistant work? Will it
be in the technology or communication field?
The possibilities are wide and varied, and
the opportunities go on forever.
Once you have your "land" and
your "foundation", the next step
is to put up the "walls". Each log
on our house was fitted, notched out and put
together -- just like those Lincoln Log toys
that I played with as a child. As a business
grows, the walls are erected. A solid
marketing plan would be one wall, a website
presence would be another wall, community
participation (be it on- or off-line) would
be your third wall, and your business
structure would be the final wall. Without
all of the walls, your business is not
structurally sound.
Within each wall is where the door and
windows are found, and within your business
is where the individual aspects that make up
a business are located. Networking,
communications, administrative details, etc.
Everything that will assist you in finding
success is considered a support to the basic
business structure.
Finally, there is no house without the
roof - and there is no business without your
customer. A roof needs care and attention,
as does your clientele. The safety provided
by the basic elements of your business are
contingent upon your customer being happy,
having access to you and helping you bring
your newly-built business off of the ground.
Without a roof, you get wet!
(c) 2003 by Tammy Harrison. Tammy is
the mother of four and the Independent
Creative Representative for HBWM.com,
Inc. Click
here to contact Tammy.
Do
Good Deeds
by Tammy Harrison
It's THAT time of year again, when
home-based working moms traditionally put
our businesses on hold while the demands of
the holidays overtake our normal routines!
Unless you sell products that folks may
purchase as gifts, your business will
probably slow down for a few weeks during
the holiday season. But, don't despair!
There are many things you can do, to help
market yourself and your business,
especially during the holidays!
1. Give Your Gifts Away: In our area,
there is an annual children's auction on our
local radio station. They take in donations
from area businesses and auction them off,
and all of the money goes towards buying
gifts for children from disadvantaged homes.
Last year, not only did I personally give
away items, but some of my clients did, too!
This is a great way to get your name heard
on the radio and in the newspaper, while
offering something to those who do not have
it.
2. Holiday Cards: Do not let an
opportunity to share your business card pass
you by! All year long, I keep an on-going
database of clients and contacts, organized
and alphabetized. This system sure comes in
handy when I am ready to send holiday
greetings! Including something personal,
such as a photo or hand-written message
makes a huge impact on your recipients. I
also throw in the business cards, just in
case my pals need to have an extra one
hanging around!
3. Smile: Have you noticed how much more
attention you bring to yourself if you
smile, compared to if you don't? I am one of
those who truly dislikes holiday crowds, and
sometimes, even going to the grocery store
(with four kids in tow) is more than I can
handle. But, during the holidays, the kids
and I stop just before we get out of the
car, and we share a song and a joke! This
puts us in a much more jolly mood for the
tasks at hand, and the crowds in the stores
move aside when a smiling mom with four
caroling kids comes cruising through the
aisles! I cannot tell you how many
conversations have been started just from
our jolly selves!
4. Set Up an Auto-Response Message: All
throughout the year, I make it a point to
answer my emails within 24 hours of
receiving them, and folks really like that
(and they get used to it). Unfortunately,
during the holiday season, I sometimes have
a difficult time answering everyone when
they expect me to. So, I set up an
auto-response message, that lets folks know
that I have received their message and will
respond within 48 hours (instead of my usual
24 hours). I also include a holiday greeting
for best wishes, just to make sure folks
remember that a mom's life is busy, without
adding the work-at-home aspects!
5. Offer to donate a portion of your
sales to a charity: I just ran across
HolidayHope.com, which is a new website this
year. All of the merchants who offer their
products are also offering to donate a
portion of the proceeds to a worthy cause.
So, you not only get an audience that you've
probably not reached before, but you also
get to share some of your profits with those
who need it!
In essence, the holidays remind us that
there's more to life than what we see in our
own surroundings. It is also a time for
home-based working moms to take a little
extra time to focus on their families, and
to enjoy the reason that we work from home.
But, you do not have to shut down during the
holidays. Instead, think of others and think
of how your generosity can help both your
business AND those in need. It will make a
huge difference ... even if the difference
is in your heart!
(c) 2003 by Tammy Harrison. Tammy is
the mother of four and the Independent
Creative Representative for HBWM.com,
Inc. Click
here to contact Tammy.
Financing
Your Dreams
by Tammy Harrison
As I started working with our sponsor a
few weeks ago, it really hit me that women
are on the bottom of the finance chain. Not
only do we have a big strike against us if
we have been married and our credit report
doesn't reflect the joint financial efforts
of married people - we then have to deal
with the loss of individuality that
accompanies such!
Having a degree in personal finance and
after being raised by a banker, I have an
inside track on the world of money lending.
That does not mean all of the same rules do
not apply to me, I was just aware of the
potential problems associated with borrowing
money from an early age and took the
necessary steps to prevent the major
pitfalls of being a female first and then a
married female.
I started out earning my own credit
through a $500.00 loan with my credit union.
Unbelievably, they loaned money to a young
lady (all of 19 years old) who had a
part-time job and was attending school. I
had nothing else going for me at the time. I
took that money and put it in a savings
account and paid the loan back early by
paying more than was requested each month
and then paying it off before it came due.
After that experience, the credit union
deemed me a good risk and offered me their
credit card. I used (and continue to use)
that credit card responsibly. I pay off my
balance, do not use the card unless I can
afford to pay it off each month and my
credit union continues to be good to me.
There has been a time or two when I needed a
loan and they were willing and able to loan
me the money even though I have not been in
the town where they are located since 1985.
I also made an effort to pay my college
student loans on demand. I borrowed money
for my last two years of school and my debt
was around $3,000.00 at the time. I did ask
for a deferral once in the last nine years,
but other than that, I paid the loan
monthly. Two months ago I received a letter
from the State of Missouri saying that they
appreciated my prompt payments throughout
the years and as a way of saying thanks,
were forgiving the remaining balance of my
student loan (around $575.00). I was
stunned! That, in and of itself, is the
icing on the cake of my financial success.
I did not even think about what type of
savings I needed when I was pregnant with
our first child. All I knew was that I was
not going to work and we were going to live
on one income. As I have grown my business
in the past year, the money has been
sufficient to pay for my business expenses
so I have not had to worry about borrowing.
But, I am keenly aware that other women are
not as lucky as I am. Some are single moms,
some need more financing to maintain their
home-based business than I do. Some even
need income to live on while they grow their
business. Where is a woman and a mom to
turn?
The first thing to do is to obtain a copy
of your credit report. You can do this
online or offline and are usually allowed
one free copy per year from these agencies.
Read your credit report very carefully.
There could be errors or omissions that will
need your attention. It is a long, arduous
process to get things changed on your credit
report and the red-tape may make you angry,
but it is the most necessary part of making
sure your credit rating is correct so that
you can obtain the financing you need.
I have seen home-based businesses start
with a credit card, but do not recommend
this approach unless you have a card that
charges less than 10% interest (highly
unlikely). If you have taken the steps to
ensure accuracy and credit worthiness via
your credit report, take the time to obtain
a business/personal loan. You will not only
save money on interest but you will be
helping yourself build up your individual
credit and that will eventually pay off in
the long run!
(c) 2003 by Tammy Harrison. Tammy is
the mother of four and the Independent
Creative Representative for HBWM.com,
Inc. Click
here to contact Tammy.
Make
Time for Your Heart and Make a Difference
by Tammy Harrison
One of the best things about working from
home is that I am able to leave my heart on
my sleeve. Do you know what I mean? I've
worked in offices where the boss determined
what local charities we supported, what we
did on our days off if there was a
fundraiser going on that we should be
involved in and where our donated dollars
went. My husband still has to endure this
type of treatment, when his employer sends
out 'giving slips' to their favorite
charity, with his paycheck.
Now that I'm my own boss, things are a
bit different! I do support charities, but I
also work to support other forms of making a
difference in the lives of others.
I still converse via email with one of my
major professors from college (which I
attended more than a few years ago). He is
much more fun now that he's not determining
my future through some subjective or
objective grade he puts on my homework! A
couple of weeks ago, he emailed that he was
now the department chair, and was having a
difficult time keeping the other professors
in his department motivated. There is
usually a time in each academic semester
that this becomes a problem, as students
start to become bored with the subject and
start thinking ahead to whatever they have
planned for summer. But, in this case, the
situation was enhanced because of the huge
budget cuts and constraints that many
institutions of higher education are facing
across the country. He asked me if I had any
words of wisdom that he could use as a
carrot to dangle in front of his charges, to
help them overcome the fact that they
probably wouldn't see a raise in a while.
In my response, I told him that they
should be glad that they had a job -- and
the jobs that they chose had much more
impact on human nature than nearly any other
profession one could choose. I also
mentioned that he wouldn't get much more
than a positive life story out of me, since
it was teachers who helped me see that a
life as an orphan was profoundly affected by
those who taught me and the books they
shared with me.
I guess I had never mentioned to him, in
all the years we've known each other, that I
was orphaned and was raised in the foster
care system. So, I spent a morning outlining
the good, the bad and the ugly life that I
lived as a child and into young adulthood.
At the time, though, I was thinking of
what a day I had wasted! I should have been
doing laundry, playing more with the kids
and working a little. Instead, I was
emailing back and forth with someone I
hadn't seen in over 10 years!
But, as our communications continued, he
found what he was looking for and I hadn't
even realized that I could supply his
dangling carrot. "Can I make this
e-mail anonymous (take out all references to
you and towns) and share it with the
faculty? It is a supreme reminder of the
differences we can chose to make on a daily
basis. I've read it three times now!"
he wrote.
Right then I realized that I had NOT
wasted my day -- I actually made a
difference to others!
Which brings me to today. I promised to
make a baby quilt for a friend named Bell.
Mind you, I don't really know Bell; but, I
do have online business dealings with some
of her friends and I felt the gesture was a
kind one. Bell lost a son late last year, he
was born with medical problems and he didn't
survive them. I cannot imagine her pain. Not
as a mother and not as a friend. She's
hurting and those who know and love her are
hurting, too. A month after Baby D passed, I
suggested to some of these online friends
that we should memorialize Baby D by making
a quilt for his family. My suggestion stems
from a blanket that I have, that an aunt
gave me when I was 13 years old. It's not
much, just an afghan -- but, someone who
loves me gave it to me, and it is treasured
as such. I wanted Baby D's mom to have the
same type of memory of her son -- and I
wanted the women who knew her, all across
the world, to create squares for the quilt
while possibly helping themselves and their
grief process.
It all came together beautifully. Last
week, I received all of the squares in the
mail. I spent a couple of days just looking
at them, touching them and shedding a few
tears. I had to get the emotions out of my
system so that I could sew the quilt
together without crying through the process.
I sewed all of the squares together today,
into a beautiful quilt that will surely be
treasured by Bell and her family. I know
that Bell will process her grief and come
together in her own time, just as those
individual squares came together as I sewed
them to make a lovely blanket. Each square
was designed with love by women and families
from all walks of life, but they all came
together into a blanket of love.
Therefore, when we speak our motto at
HBWM.com, "Work Where Your Heart
Is"; you can bet that I am doing that
with the utmost of satisfaction and joy. I
am working to make a difference, not just
with my children, but also in the business
world that I have chosen. This is my home,
and my heart is on my sleeve -- right where
it should be.
(c) 2003 by Tammy Harrison. Tammy is
the mother of four and the Independent
Creative Representative for HBWM.com,
Inc. Click
here to contact Tammy.
My
Dirty Little Secret: I'm a Saleswoman!
by Tammy Harrison
There, I said it, and it is true! I am a
saleswoman, and I make my sales from home.
There is no better career choice for me, so
I am running through the streets telling
folks about my lovely life and how they,
too, can do what I do from the comfort of
their own abode.
Why is this such a big deal, you ask?
Well, think about it. When you are looking
for home-based work, what's the first thing
you thought about? Probably, if you're like
most of the people who write to me, you are
scrounging around everywhere looking for
data entry jobs! Ah, yes, I can see you
blushing now! You wanted to take that
nine-to-five job you had and take it home
with you. But, get real!
There definitely are some home-based
opportunities in the data entry field. Most
of the advertisements for such are not
legitimate, though. Those people who have
(and dearly hold) those jobs are people who
worked for the same company in the office,
and who became loyal enough employees that
they were allowed to telecommute. I know, I
was one of them...but, I ditched that career
choice some time ago!
Why? Well, there was little difference
from me working in the office and me working
at home. I was required to be at my desk at
8 o'clock in the morning, and I was verbally
chastised if I wasn't working whenever the
boss called. I still had to give my boss my
daily and weekly 'personal' schedule, right
down to when I walked out to get the mail. I
was docked pay if I took time to run the
baby to the doctor, and my boss refused to
mail my paycheck to me--I had to drive to
the office to pick it up. That's hogwash!
When I decided to throw caution (and
steady pay) to the wind, I sat down and
started making a list of the things that I
did for my job, and the parts of it that I
enjoyed and was good at. Do you know what I
realized? I noticed, when looking at all of
the work I had done throughout adulthood,
that my best qualities involved SELLING! Oh,
cover your eyes if you must; but, I bet if
you thought about it for a while, you would
realize that you do your best selling
something, too.
In the attorney's office, I sold our
professional services. In the honky-tonk, I
sold drinks and ambiance. And now, I sell
advertising! There are very few jobs that
one doesn't "sell" at. Ok, you
work on the factory line. You don't think
you sell? I bet if you worked in the
automobile industry, you probably own one of
the cars that you help make. That, my
friend, is selling! You are giving your
personal approval not just to the car you
helped make, but you are also advertising it
everywhere you drive by the emblem glued to
the front grill! There's the hairdresser who
sells her services to the public, there's
the grocer who sells his products to
shoppers, there's the dairy farmer who sells
his milk to the producer -- we ALL sell
SOMETHING!
So, when you go searching for that
home-based dream job, don't pass up
opportunities just because you see the word
"sales". I absolutely LOVE what I
do, and I don't have to put up with any boss
besides myself! I come and go as I please, I
let the kids interrupt me at their whim, and
I know that if I want to be financially
successful, the sacrifices I make late at
night are by my own choice.
(c) 2003 by Tammy Harrison. Tammy is
the mother of four and the Independent
Creative Representative for HBWM.com,
Inc. Click
here to contact Tammy.
Successful
Adventure
by Tammy Harrison
What is your definition of success? Is it
driving a pricey automobile? Is it not
having to worry about budgeting? Is it being
able to pay off your debts? Once you
determine your definition of success you
will be able to move through the process of
finding home-based work.
I suggest making a list of the reasons
you want to work from home. My number one
reason is because I want to raise my own
children. My mother was a homemaker and
although she died when I was 11, I clearly
remember her being at home with us. In fact,
I believe it is all the more special to me
that she spent her entire adult life having
and raising her children. The genetics in my
family do not make for a very long life so I
want to give my children all of me just in
case my life ends at an early age. My second
reason for wanting to be home-based is to
supplement my husband’s income. He makes
good money, but the savings account has
suffered since we started having children
and since I quit working a regular job. We
would like to continue our retirement plan
without taking away from our regular living
expenses. We would like to take the kids on
a real vacation instead of just to Grandma’s
to visit. These are the reasons that I used
in searching for my personal definition of
success.
If you are looking for a job that pays
you what you currently make or more with
fringe benefits and job security while you
are in your pink fuzzy slippers, I am afraid
you will have a difficult time being
satisfied with home-based employment. Face
it, you want your cake served to you with
the silver fork. You want someone to take
care of you. That is not reality in the
entrepreneur world.
The reality of success for an
entrepreneur is a lot of sweat equity and a
little bit of luck. I work at least 10 hours
a day in my search for success. It is not
all at one time because I am being a mom
most of the time. But, we have structured
our days around the kids' schedule and I
work when I can. We have two hours of
television time in the morning. The kids are
allowed to watch certain educational shows
and I am allowed to work. Many days I grab a
half hour and eat at my desk while the kids
eat their lunch. Nap time is another two
hour block of time that I can accomplish
more work. Then, once I get the babies all
tucked in for the night, I have free reign
and (usually) uninterrupted time to work the
night away. Is this an easy schedule to
keep? Absolutely not. I am often interrupted
and most of the time am multi-tasking while
trying to finish just one thing. But, I am
flexible enough to allow my children to
determine my schedule and work will come in
time.
I do not make the amount of money that I
did when I was gainfully employed and my
fringe benefits have milk mustaches. But, I
am one lucky gal. I can have my cake and eat
it with the silver fork because I have four
beautiful children and earn enough money to
feel like I’m a successfully contributing
member of this family. That is my definition
of success.
(c) 2003 by Tammy Harrison. Tammy is
the mother of four and the Independent
Creative Representative for HBWM.com,
Inc. Click
here to contact Tammy.
Summer
Work Hours
by Tammy Harrison
I'm feeling it already. No, not the heat
of summer. Not the excitement of the kids to
be out of school. Not even the pressure to
do all of the things that other stay-at-home
moms do. I'm feeling the time crunch from
trying to combine summer kids with summer
work!
If you're like me, your kids are out of
school (or soon to be out of school) and
your routine is sure to change. I have
always maintained that I will take Tuesdays
and Thursdays off of work to just enjoy the
time with the babes. This year, I reinforced
that decision by hiring a sitter to come
with us to various outings. She will help
corral our four wild offspring, so that I am
not so stressed while we play. She also
doesn't drive, which forces me to go to town
and pick her up, and plan activities away
from the house.
As I was visiting with a publisher the
other day, we were discussing all of the
activities I had scheduled for the kids.
Between camps and visits to Grandma's and
church activities, he said something that
made me stop in my tracks. He said, "Be
sure that YOU spend time with them,
too."
Oh my! Can you imagine? Scheduling your
children's social and academic calendar so
full that there isn't any time for them to
enjoy their mom and/or dad and their own
home?
Work is another matter. I am busy
constantly with my home-based business, and
most of it is just communicating via email
with folks all around the country. I can do
this with or without the kids, and can do it
any time of the day.
Keeping all of the advice that you may
have received about working during the
summer in mind, please remember that we are
home so that we can raise our kids. Enjoy
them FIRST and work later. You may earn a
bit less money in the summer, or you may
have to rearrange your work hours to better
fit with the routines of the kids, but you
will also be rewarded with a memorable time,
lots of hugs and kisses and maybe even a few
words of endearment!
(c) 2003 by Tammy Harrison. Tammy is
the mother of four and the Independent
Creative Representative for HBWM.com,
Inc. Click
here to contact Tammy.
Take
a Trip - and Take Notes!
by Tammy Harrison
One of the best things about working from
home is the freedom that comes with working
for myself. When I need to be the mom or
enjoy a day with my kids, I can turn the
computer and the telephone off and leave my
work behind me. When we want to travel, all
I have to do is load the laptop and cell
phone in the auto and embark on places
unknown!
To me, that freedom is something that
cannot be replaced by a job in a stuffy
office, just to have the security of an
employer-sponsored retirement plan or the
wage-lowering benefits of health insurance.
Last week, we planned a holiday
get-together with my husband's family,
meeting halfway between our home and theirs.
It was to be a 800+ mile trek for both of
us, and we had reservations at a lodge; and
plans to enjoy our time playing and
visiting.
Three years ago, we had made reservations
to stay at The Golden Eagle Lodge in Red
River, New Mexico. I had given the man our
credit card information and he charged the
deposit to our account. Within a month, my
sister-in-law was a victim of the flood that
ran through central Texas, and she lost her
entire house and most contents. At that
time, she decided she was not up to a
Christmas holiday and I called the lodge to
cancel our reservations. The customer
service was phenomenol, and despite the fact
that we were not entitled to all of our
deposit back, they refunded the entire
amount--not even taking the credit card
processing fees that they had to pay on the
original funds. This was definitely a place
that knew the value of a good customer!
The day after our arrival last week, the
very gracious lodge manager came to make
sure our first night was comfortable and to
ask if there was anything that he could do
to ensure that we had a good stay. We
discussed extra trash bags for baby diapers,
a vacuum cleaner so that the floor was free
of debris for tiny hands and an internet
connection.
Oops, I said the wrong thing. They were
lucky to have party-lines on the phones in
the hotel, not to mention the fact that
fibre-optics were not available in their
mountains! Copper lines ran through the
town, and getting an internet connection
meant waiting until midnight, and calling
long-distance to the nearest city.
Lucky for me, a wise man in town was
thinking of the connected world and the
tourism dollars that came through. He
installed a satallite dish on his gas
station and opened the first Red River cyber
cafe!
Think about this for a minute. Two
entrepreneurs, in a very small tourist town,
are doing what they can to bring folks to
their utopia. No matter the condition of the
lodge, we came away with positive
impressions about the place, just because of
the way we were treated. And, although my
laptop life-line to the world was not
available from the comfort of my robe and
fuzzy slippers, there was an option
available to meet my needs.
Are you doing the same with your
home-based business? Are you providing
unmatched customer service? Are you meeting
the needs of your audience? If not, take a
trip to Red River, New Mexico -- and take
notes!
(c) 2003 by Tammy Harrison. Tammy is
the mother of four and the Independent
Creative Representative for HBWM.com,
Inc. Click
here to contact Tammy.
When
Times are Lean
by Tammy Harrison
We received a telephone call from the
owner of a local manufacturing business a
couple of weeks ago. He had handcrafted a
trailer for my husband. The phone call was a
follow-up to make sure that the trailer was
acceptable. After my husband assured him
that all was great, the business owner
explained that their sales had dropped 20%,
so they were closing the doors.
More than once lately, I have been
reminded that one of the uncertains in a
home-based business is lean times. No money
coming in, no prospect of money coming in,
and no idea how one is going to pay for the
ISP each month. You have written to all of
your clients and customers, and no one has
come forth with any additional work for you.
Not to mention the fact that the holidays
are fast approaching, and you really wanted
to give your children some of the bigger
items on their lists.
Unfortunately, you may have waited too
late to fulfill some of your sales goals for
the month, and you may not be able to make
all of the kids' dreams come true. But, you
can start now to insure that the lean times
do not flow over into next year. Here are
some tips to help you increase your customer
base, and your pocketbook:
1) Market, market, market. This is one
item that should never be overlooked, even
when you have more than enough clients and
sales. Take the time to do some market
testing and find the best approach to
selling yourself and your business. Then,
make goals each day/week/month to set aside
dedicated time to market your business.
2) Volunteer your time and energies. When
business is slow, it gives you more time to
give. Many non-profits are looking for
volunteers, especially during the holiday
season. Who knows who you might run into?
You could be helping serve food in a soup
kitchen and be standing next to the CEO of
the biggest business in town - and when you
are scooping vegetable soup, you could be
marketing yourself and your business!
3) Make sure that all expenses for your
business can be paid for when times are
tough. This means having adequate savings to
tide you over, not making big purchases when
your business is historically low, or
working your business on a budget. I have
opted not to purchase DSL. One of the
reasons is because we live in the country,
and the only way for me to have the speed
would be to purchase a satellite. But, the
other reason is that I do not want to be
strapped for cash when that recurring bill
comes every month. My fixed expenses for my
business are less than $150 per month, and I
have worked my business well enough to know
that I will be able to pay those expenses
whether I make a big sale or not.
4) Make sure that your home expenses are
just as carefully budgeted as your business
expenses. In my case, my husband pays the
bills and I pay for the fun. The total of
our home expenses will never exceed that of
my business expenses because we are very
careful to live within our means. Groceries
for a family of six are really the only
unknown in our house (as we have savings for
the bigger household repair expenditures),
but I have worked this business long enough
to know when my slow times are, so that I
can be ready for them. February is typically
a slow month for me, so you can bet I will
be making more dinners from scratch,
planning my meals based on the ingredients
in my pantry and eating out less than once a
week.
5) Do some business sharing with friends
and non-competitive counterparts. For
example, say you are a web designer and your
friend sells baskets. Work out a commission
arrangement with them and exchange business
cards and marketing materials with each
other. When you visit with clients, leave
your own materials with them as well as that
of your friend. That way, even if you don't
make a sale, you may be able to pick up a
little commission by helping your friend
make sales.
6) Coupons WORK. Create some coupons and
distribute them wherever you can! I make
mine on the backs of my business cards, that
way my potential clients have both my
contact information as well as their
discount on one handy card. Drop some off at
the laundromat, ask if you can set them on a
counter in the local mail stop and share
them with your friends and family for
distribution. When I worked in the law
office, we always had a running joke about
business cards. We were to keep a stack of
them in our car, right next to a disposable
camera. When we came upon an accident, we
were to *accidentally* drop some of the
attorney's business cards out of the window.
Then, go around the block and snap
photographs of the scene. That way, we could
develop the film and use that as a means to
make contact with the victims; and they
would already have our name fresh in their
minds if they picked up the cards that
littered the street! This was a joke, but it
is a unique way of making sure that people
find you.
7) Network with others. Again, you may
not think you have anything to offer, but
conversing with people (on- and off-line) is
one of the best ways to increase the
awareness about your business. When we work
at home, we rarely have a flashy sign on our
front lawn. Locals may not be aware of what
you do, because of that. So, take the time
to visit with neighbors, at the grocery
store, at gymnastic lessons. Make sure that
you are the *talk of the town*, and make
sure you keep talking!
8) Invest in a cell phone. This is my
single biggest expense in my office, outside
of computer equipment. I can not only take
calls anywhere and anytime, I can also plug
my laptop into it so that I am never without
my connection to the world. Many potential
clients still have trouble leaving messages
on voice mail or an answering machine. I can
forward my home office calls to my cell
phone when I am out and about, which gives
me more of a chance to sell myself and my
business than hoping that people will leave
messages.
9) Stock up. When you are having good
times, the checkbook is happy. But, do not
be too smug about all of the money you are
making. Watch for paper sales, specials on
printing costs, etc. Make sure you have
enough of the everyday supplies you need to
make it for a month or two.
10) Do NOT give up! Unless you are
running in the red for more than a year, if
you have the drive and determination to make
your business a success, then keep your
spirits up!
(c) 2003 by Tammy Harrison. Tammy is
the mother of four and the Independent
Creative Representative for HBWM.com,
Inc. Click
here to contact Tammy.
Why
Work?
by Tammy Harrison
I've seen it happy many times. A mom
starts working from home, works hard and her
business begins to thrive, and then
something terrible happens. Sometimes, it's
a divorce. Other times, the mothering
caregiver has to nurse someone back to
health; be it her own child, husband or
parent. Even simple daily living can get so
busy that you don't have time to give your
usual time or concentration to your
business.
When circumstances such as these occur,
there is more than just the family nucleus
who endures the emotional upheaval - the
home-based business owner must also try to
figure out what to do about her business
within the mix of the conflict or
scheduling.
Last week was one of those weeks that I
don't want to repeat until the next holiday
rolls around. Our school-aged daughter had a
full schedule of school and extracurricular
activities. My husband was out of town on a
business trip, for the entire week. My
in-laws came to our house for the week, to
help me with the kids. Business was booming
and I had no time to do anything!
In my experience, I have always felt it
is best to be up-front and honest with my
clients. Those who wrote to me, wanting
information were quickly taken care of with
easy responses. Those who needed more were
told that I'd get to it as soon as I could,
barring any more family emergencies. These
are simple answers to timing problems, and I
find that most home-based businesses have
timing issues.
But, what do you do when your whole
business is threatened?
1) Take the time to focus on the most
important aspects of your life. If that is
your family, then take the time you need for
them. Focus is difficult in trying times,
and making sure that you are capable of
focusing on one thing at a time is important
for stability.
2) Having competent help to step in and
help you is great. Most of us, working from
home, have the misconception that we are
going it alone, when usually, the reverse is
true. I have made sure that my assistant
knows every little thing about my business,
so she can help me when or if I need it. Do
not be afraid to ask for help, because we
are NOT alone!
3) When you need to put your mind to your
business instead of the conflict around you,
stop before starting and mediate for a
minute; take a deep breath, say a little
prayer and close out the world around you so
that you can motivate yourself to handle the
immediate problems or issues.
4) Make a daily goals sheet and to-do
list. Even if you are just going through the
motions of making sure your home-based
business stays afloat, writing down what you
need to do helps with making sure you do
everything needed and it also helps brings
things to closure. Also, make a goal that
you want to be back at work in two months
(or whatever time-line you prefer) and work
towards that. It's ok if it doesn't happen
exactly as you planned, but the planning is
important to helping you deal with today and
move on to tomorrow.
5) Keep a positive attitude. Minutes and
days pass, and issues get resolved in time
and you will look back at the lessons you
have learned from the experience. Take care
of your mental health by leaning on friends
and family and perhaps a counselor so you
can work through your problems and keep
moving forward.
Above all, remember that you must take
care of your family first. Businesses come
and go, but your family and yourself are
what you have to live with forever!
Tammy Harrison is the mother of four, and
the Independent Creative Representative of
Home-Based Working Moms. She can be reached
via email at CreativeRep@hbwm.com.
(c) 2003 by Tammy Harrison. Tammy is
the mother of four and the Independent
Creative Representative for HBWM.com,
Inc. Click
here to contact Tammy.
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