Devoted to WAHMs -Work at Home Moms

Fear is a big thing holding me back, and the need for my income. I would love to start working from home right now, but we need to pay off some debt and save some money. I also have a lack of support from family.

So I'v be researching, learning what works for others, and preparing to get my foot in the door, so I can perhaps build up to full time and the leave the corporate workplace.

Hi TJ!

I can sympathize with your situation. I hope that you are able to take the step that you need to. Did you ever consider working part-time from home to get your business off the ground while you worked your corporate job? I know that approach has worked for some.

Hi! I found just found your site, and I'm glad I did. I do work from home, but I admit that I'm fearful constantly, and am looking for at least a part-time job outside of the home. I think my business isn't doing as well as I'd like because of my marketing hesitancy (as you put it).

Who knows I'm a freelance writer? Hardly anyone, and certainly not the thousands of businesses in my state, nor the millions of businesses in the country.

I know what I need to do. But I'm not doing it. Maybe a fear of success? Or a fear of failure after giving it my all.

Anyway, thanks for giving me some food for thought! I subscribed to your feed, so I'll be around quite a bit now.

Thanks Theda!

I certainly wish you well with your business. Keep reading. I try to touch on all of the concerns of a work-at-home mom (including marketing). I'm open to suggestions, too.

This is an excellent article and I agree I think many fail, or don't do as well as they should because they are afraid and they lack a plan. You have to be confident in your own abilities. If you aren't why should anyone else?

I began my business six years ago (part-time) and then I finally made the move to full-time.

About a month, ago I started freelance writing. I'm enjoying it immensely. I have a lot to learn, but I'm confident in my abilities and am willing to learn and be aggressive in getting what I want.

What helped me out was being willing to learn, realizing that I didn't know everything, researching, and finding mentors that were willing to offer me advice.

This is an excellent article and I agree I think many fail, or don't do as well as they should because they are afraid and they lack a plan. You have to be confident in your own abilities. If you aren't why should anyone else?

I began my business six years ago (part-time) and then I finally made the move to full-time.

About a month, ago I started freelance writing. I'm enjoying it immensely. I have a lot to learn, but I'm confident in my abilities and am willing to learn and be aggressive in getting what I want.

What helped me out was being willing to learn, realizing that I didn't know everything, researching, and finding mentors that were willing to offer me advice.

Hi Opal!

Thanks for sharing your experience and encouraging the rest of us. You make an important point about being willing to learn.

Laura,
Thanks! I still have a lot to learn but what has helped with freelance writing has been to use some of the same practices I've learned with my business and apply them to freelance writing. Freelance writing is a business after all so it as such. :-)

I have noticed that some people don't think they need to learn anything new. Thinking of the ones I personally know the ones with that mentality have experienced the most problems. They have to change their attitude and realize we can always make our service better.

I appreciate constructive criticism. I realize it's not a personal attack, and it will help business become even better. :-)

That should have been...
Freelance writing is a business after all so should treat it as like one. :-)

This is a great conversation.

My plan has been to study others on the various web sites to learn what works for them and how they do it all. This teaches me what the different options are, where the markets are, and how to set appropriate goals.

It's really been enlightening. My goal for the first half of 2008 is to land a couple of gigs to get some experience. Then, I'll work from there when I reevaluate things later this year.

This IS a great conversation. I'm hoping that we can all learn from each other.

I "researched" how to be a writer for about a year before I finally took my first steps. That was definitely fear. There comes a point where you realize you're hiding behind something, and you need to break out.

I later realized that had I took the plunge earlier, I would have made all my beginner's mistakes a lot sooner, and been in a much different place right now.

Hi Katherine!

You make a good point about starting earlier, but at the same time I'm sure that your research did do you some good.

Thanks so much for sharing your experience.

Hey, I am a work-at-home mom. If you ask my feeling, I will say I feel easy now. But at the beginning, it was very tough for me to make the decision whether or not to continue to work outside of the home. This book really gave me a lot of help when I made the decision: http://dealstudio.com/searchdeals.php?deal_id=77348&ru=279 , I think I am right that I have made the decision. Now my family and my job work well. And I am sure this trend -- "woking at home" will be more and more popular.

Bright,

Thank you for sharing!