This week Christie Ingram of the blog Work At Home Mom Hacks (and former intern 
right here at WAHM Talk Radio!) and I are dishing about all topics related to our at-home businesses. We have talked about our families, how to fit work into a busy mama’s life, and mentors we share. If you would like to catch up on the conversation so far read Christie’s last post.
Christie’s last question to me was this: What are your goals for your business and your family? What are you doing to make sure you achieve them and how do you stay focused? What do you think has been the most important factor in getting to this point in your life?
Oh, what a great question! I suspect we all enter this whole work-at-home thing with different goals. My goals for my Virtual Assistant business are simple and probably very similar to a lot of moms: to earn additional income, and maintain my connection to the business (or, real grown-up) world!
About the whole additional income thing, when my oldest was born five years ago we adjusted our lifestyle so I could stay at home. And after three kids we’ve done even more belt-tightening. So the money I earn is either reinvested back in my business or set aside for education savings accounts or family trips.
More importantly, though, my business is my outlet. Don’t get me wrong; I love playing Barbies, going to the park, or bringing the kids to their activities. But my mommy brain needs a workout too! And what is more engaging than being the boss? I get definite satisfaction from all aspects of my business, even the most mundane details. Seriously, I can’t think about fishy crackers and the blow-up pool all day!
I feel especially proud of the book I have selling on Amazon. It is called the Virtual Assistant Manual for Moms: A 4-week plan to build your VA business. It walks you step-by-step through everything you need to do so start your Virtual Assistant business, and it is unique in that it is written in short, daily to-dos. Most of the moms I know don’t have time to read a long novel or sit at their computer for hours at a time, so my book is structured to fit the life of real moms!
You ask what has been the most important factor in getting to this point in my business. Nothing magical – just determination. Good, old fashioned rolling up my sleeves and working!
Well, Christie, I will let you have the last word in our cross-blog conversation! Thank you for participating with me. I have had a blast! My final question to you is: Where do you focus your marketing efforts? How do you split your focus between your blog, internet marketing, forums, social networking, or anything else that you do for marketing?
Tue, Jun 23, 2009
Working at Home