Devoted to WAHMs -Work at Home Moms

I've blogged before about how I'd like to reach out to some of the work-at-home dads who can also benefit from reading this blog. Well, today I'm taking a step in that direction. This is my first interview with a work-at-home dad (WAHD?).

When I asked the Know More Media authors if they could recommend anyone who worked at home for an interview, Michael Jones stepped forward. Michael is a dad who has a long history of experience working from home. Michael also blogs at Know More Media's Best Biz Ware blog. I think that Work From Home Momma readers can learn a lot from what he has to say.

In fact, this particular interview has proved to be so interesting that I've decided to publish it in two parts. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for the the second part!

Let's hear what Michael has to say:

Work From Home Momma: How many years have you worked from home?

Michael: I have to divide that answer into three parts. I stopped being an employee in 1979 and wound up consulting in the computer software field. I worked at home for a variety of small business clients, primarily writing custom software to help them run their businesses, until 1993, with a two-year interlude during which I formed a small company with others for the express purpose of completing a very large hardware / software project for a fortune 100 company.

That led to a number of other contacts in large businesses, which led to a long string of large software development projects. The difference during this period was that I almost invariably worked in the offices of my client, managing mixed teams consisting of other consultants and client employees.

That difference is significant. When you are working in a team in the client facility, it is easy to let the line between consultant and employee blur, which can cause problems of its own.

In 2003, I experienced several significant health issues centered around Multiple Sclerosis and a very scary and nearly fatal bout with cancer. The result was that I am no longer able to work in the way that I previously had. I am now classified as fully disabled, and do those few things that I can still handle, just to keep my hand in. Those include doing some writing (blogging and novels) and doing relatively minor software tasks for a few small business clients.  

Work From Home Momma: What made you decide to work from home?

Michael: I had always chafed in the role of an employee. My first jobs after college were in the insurance industry as a safety engineer, first with a large carrier, then with a national broker. The reputation of the insurance business as being rigid and less than riveting is well deserved. Several clients of my employers had asked me to do projects for them, and I finally lost my will to resist them.

The timing of that move coincided with the introduction of the first primitive microcomputers. I bought one (a Radio Shack TRS-80 Model I) and taught myself to program. Soon, I branched out into writing custom business software and quickly abandoned safety engineering altogether.

Work From Home Momma: What is the biggest difference that you've noticed between working at home and working in a traditional environment?

Michael: There is significantly more responsibility and freedom involved in working for yourself than in working for others. Once you have learned to accept the responsibility, you can begin to enjoy the freedom, but the two of them always have to work together in a fairly tight balance. You can't have one without the  ther.

Generally, there is no one else to depend on in several important ways. You quickly find that the boss you didn't like had some positive qualities, such as keeping a whole series of tasks off your to-do list. The people over in marketing that you could never quite gel with were sorely missed when you had to find your own  clients. That self-assumed task list is almost endless.

In order to be successful, especially at first, you have to learn to do every job necessary to deliver a service or product all by yourself.

Work From Home Momma: How would you describe your current business? What sets it apart?

Michael: In many ways, I am back doing the same sorts of things that I did when I first left the standard work force. The technical side of my business finds me building and / or maintaining Web sites for a variety of clients, from Kansas  newspaper publishers to Australian bloggers. That is a very comfortable area of my work, done on a dollars-per-hour basis, and is fairly steady. I am asked to do more work than my health will allow.

The other side is less comfortable and more fun. I have always wanted to write and never had the courage to quit my day job, even though my day job was working for myself. So the health issues were a blessing in disguise in at least one way. When I was absolutely unable to do anything else, I wrote two novels. Even though they  remain unsold, I know that I wrote them, which means a lot to me. I am at work on a third. I also write a number of blogs, some for myself and some for pay on a  contract basis.

Work From Home Momma: What is your biggest challenge?

Michael: I suppose it is having to say "No." I simply cannot handle a meaningful volume of work, especially when compared to my frenzied consulting heyday, and it irks me to have to say no to both larger and additional smaller Web projects. They are almost universally interesting and when you are done there is something that you can look at, show your friends and be proud of.

I am one of those people that actually likes to work and it is frustrating to only be able to work a little. For most of my life, I said "Yes" and just added the new task to my list, often working 80-hour weeks to fit it all in. Now, instead, I say "No" and go take a nap.

Be sure to check back tomorrow to read the remainder of Michael's interview! 

Do you have more than two years of experience in a home business? Would you like to share your story on Work From Home Momma? Contact me at Laura [at symbol] workfromhomemomma.com.

Image Source: Michael Jones