This week the Mom’s Talk Network interns are introducing a new feature, Buzz a Mom. All of the interns have had a chance to interview Mary Lutz on a variety of topics, depending on the focus of the blog we are interning. Since this is a WAHM blog, I have asked Mary questions focusing on her WAHM business. Scroll down to the bottom of the article for more interviews with Mary.
Mary Lutz owns Professional Virtual Business Solutions which she started in June 2008 and went full-time in December 2008. She is also a wife, mom to 4 kids, Nana to 2 grandkids, blogger and a youth leader. Talk about having a lot on her plate! Mary shares with us her experiences being a WAHM and how she manages to get it all done.
When you launched Professional Virtual Business Solutions, what were the steps you took that had the best results?
Before the launch of the actual site, ProVBS.com, I started a Wordpress.com blog about starting a VA business. I blogged the steps I was taking and the research I was doing. That helped by getting my name out there on the web.
I also joined VA Networking and Mom Masterminds which connected me with other VA’s and WAHM’s. These two forums are amazing places to get all the help you need in starting a Virtual Assistant business and a work at home business. What does your schedule look like? How do you divide the time between business and family life?
I am fortunate to be entering the work at home arena with older children who are in school much of the day (my youngest is 16). I absolutely LOVE what I do, so I do find it hard to put the laptop down sometimes and end up “working” 12 hours a day, but it doesn’t ever feel like that. I’ve learned to make a daily schedule in Outlook, which helps me stay focused and reminds me to take breaks. It also helps me to get everything accomplished in a day that I need to or want to.
I usually start working around 9:00AM. I start by entering my schedule in Outlook. I know how long it takes me to write a blog post usually and since I write for 9 different ones now, 4 of my own and 5 for other people, I schedule ½ hour for each article. I also enter the title or the idea I have for each particular blog post in the time slot so I won’t forget…LOL.
This really helps me stay focused and on task. If I have a big project, like a new blog to build or updating a site, I set a whole day aside for that. I also set a day aside each week as a training day or learning day, which is usually Monday.
I like to start Mondays off with the Breakthrough session with Kelly McCausey, which gets me pumped and excited for the week. I’m still tweaking my schedule as I go and stuff comes up so I don’t always make it to the Breakthrough session, but I’m there every chance I get.
Advice I have for work at home mom’s with small children (there was a time when I worked from home when my children were small) : If you want to work full time from home, try to get someone to come over and help you with your children, like your mom, aunt, neighbor, etc. This way you can still be there with your children but the helper can see to the needs of the child.
Take breaks often to spend some quality time with your kids, like work ½ hour and play with them for 15 minutes or ½ hour. If you’re really focused on a project or have a deadline to meet, then work longer, get the job done and be done for the day. If you cannot find a helper, or that is not an option for you, then schedule your work around the times your child is napping.
If they sleep in a bit in the morning, get up before they do and get some work done. Work when they take a nap and when you know they will play happily for a bit in a playpen or their room (depending on their age of course). And always always remember that you are a work at home mom because you want to be the one raising your little one, not someone else!
What piece(s) of technology have been the most imperative for you as a WAHM?
My laptop! I got it right before I opened the “doors” for business. It has been a huge lifesaver because I’m not tied to a desk! I can take it in the car and work (I can connect to the internet with my cell phone) or anywhere I need to.
My cell phone as mentioned above. I have a Moto Q smart phone and we pay $10 a month so I can tether my laptop to my phone for internet connection when wi-fi isn’t available. I don’t leave home without my laptop and cell phone usually.
Do you do any social networking to promote your business? What are some of your favorite sites?
I LOVE social networking! The best site for me is Twitter. Most of my blog referrals are from Twitter. I also use Facebook and belong to many Ning sites. I even started a Ning site as a sidekick to one of my blogs.
What is the best piece of advice you have received regarding being a WAHM and who gave it to you?
You know, I don’t know if I can narrow it down to “the best piece” of advice. I’ve received so many awesome pieces of advice from people like Kelly McCausey, Alice Seba, Nicole Dean and Lynette Chandler. They are all amazing women and I’ve gleaned so much wisdom from each of them.
Do you have any advice for moms just starting their own WAHM business?
Join Mom Masterminds! Join now, get connected! Also, if you don’t have Twitter, get an account and just start using it. Follow the people above and ask them to introduce you to other Tweeters. They have so many learning resources available between the 4 of them about everything you need to know about starting and being successful in your business, you seriously don’t need to look any further!
Thanks Mary for sharing your story and giving us so many wonderful tips on how you manage to get it all done. Fantastic advice! Don’t forget to follow Mary on Twitter and check out more Buzz on Mary at: Profitable Mommy Blogging. If you would like to featured in “Buzz a Mom”, you can find more information on Moms Talk Network.
Tue, Mar 3, 2009
Working at Home