Devoted to WAHMs -Work at Home Moms

Elizabeth at the Careerandkids blog  has linked to a great post by Lisa Druxman at Entrepreneur.com. Lisa's post, Mommy, Be Professional, is on professionalism and motherhood.

Lisa's post is geared for mothers who are entrepreneurs, but it also applies to any mom who works from home (including telecommuters). Lisa stresses appearing professional (and we've talked about the importance of keeping your business clothes  on Work From Home Momma).

What I really liked about the Entrepreneur.com post was Lisa's emphasis on dependability. So many WAHMs underestimate the amount of time a project takes to do, or leave most of the work until the last minute. Then, when a family setback occurs they are unprepared to meet the very deadlines that they have committed to.

I also liked Lisa's emphasis on keeping up with your industry. Even when you are self-employed as a consultant or independent contractor, your business training should not stop. When I worked in corporate America the company paid for me to attend a certain number of training classes each year.

WAHMs should plan for and budget training opportunities so that they stay up-to-date in their skills. Fortunately, the Internet has increased the number training opportunities available in all price ranges (including free).

What is professionalism to you? How do you, as a WAHM, consultant, or telecommuter maintain your professionalism? Leave a comment and share your tips.