Home Based Business Mom

OK….
I’m not going to name names, but my friend (Dana) thinks that by getting to work at home…..
::rolls eyes::
I have it…“easy”!

No….I am not mad at my friend (Dana) – because she’s a school teacher.
A SCHOOL TEACHER.
Now I could….go on and on about how she gets summers off, holidays off, short work days, benefits….blah blah blah.
BUT – if I do that….I bet I’d get hate mail from lots of school teachers that profess to me the long hours, snippy parents, absent parents, bratty kids, snotty sick kids, late hours grading papers and planning, volunteering to
run after school programs and activities, school events…..and on and on and on.

I get it.
I do. I get it.
My kids, of course – perfect.
They never cause their teachers issues….so I don’t contribute to their woes.

But just like moms that work outside the home – working at home is TOUGH. I’m not crying in my 5th cup of coffee here – I’m just being honest. And after 9 years of doing this – I think I can make a comment. I think I can offer up some insight. (Whether you want it or not!) And you’d think my friend (Dana), would have listened to all my bitching over the years to conclude that working at home is NOT easy. Pick your ears instead of your nose Dana! I say that with LOVE. Really….I do. I will stand in front of your house in Iowa with a boom box over my head that plays, “In Your Eyes” and yell…“I love you Dana!!” if you need me to!

Working at home comes with a special array of issues and frustrations. First of all….you’ve got friends that don’t believe you’re “really” working. They think you’re playing office or some weird crap. Like we used to play cash register girl when we were little! I don’t sit here with post-it notes, a calculator and a phone  pretending to work.
Hell no.
I am WORKING.
I’m not playing online mahjong, I’m not staring at Facebook playing Farmville or taking quizzes, I’m not Twittering that I’m on Facebook playing Farmville, I’m not making cutsie little web cam videos, I’m not talking on the phone with girlfriends, my husband or my Mom.
I am W O R K I N G.
I am writing, researching, dealing with advertisers, studying SEO, implementing SEO, maintaining and updating nine websites, bookkeeping….blah blah blah….
On top of that…for years I had kids under my feet while I was doing it. While I was trying to learn HTML, SEO, and everything else. You have no idea the HELL that this is. You are torn, tired and teary.
But once your kids get in school….it almost gets worse. For one….you’re older….and you’re more tired. You’re dealing with your body and face not being so “perky” anymore. You can lose days of work just pondering how much older you’re going to look and how fast that is happening. DAYS!!!

Then there’s all the activities that school age kids are in. School events, homework, sports, dance, girl scouts, boy scouts….you find yourself in the car A LOT. The car has become my sanctuary at times. I read when I’m waiting. It’s the only time I really get to read something that I want to read. I poop at the speed of light…so bathroom reading time….ummm….not really a perk for me. I’m a “poop and run” person.

You also still have laundry, cleaning, cooking, pets, doctor visits…and all that other good stuff that all moms have to do.

Working at home means….never having a real solid block of time to get anything done. You multi-task EVERYTHING. You don’t get to “go to work” and focus on “work”. That just doesn’t happen. I don’t remember when I worked full time in radio anyone ever needing me to change their diaper or crying because someone
hit them in the face with a toy. Yes….we had our fair share of weirdos there….but really…no one crapped their
pants and asked for help. At least….they never asked me….because I would have gone on the air and told everyone about it.

Working at home has it’s pitfalls. Just like any other job. And I don’t get health insuarance or 401K. I don’t get PAID holidays….I don’t get summer’s off like SOME jobs. I do get the perk of flexibilty, not paying daycare and being here if my kids need me. That might just be worth more than health insurance or 401K. Yes…I think it is worth it – at least to me. (My kids will support me in my old age, right??)

It’s tit for tat.
It’s just not easy being a working mom. But thank God it’s women doing the working and momming for the most part. We are fabulous multi-taskers.

But it’s never easy. Not for any of us.
Well…..except for school teachers.

Just teasing (Dana).

Today is not JUST “scary” Friday the 13th…..
And by the way…..I don’t have “paraskavedekatriaphobia” or fear of Friday the 13th…
Jason Vorhees – the creepy character in the ‘Friday the 13th’ movies…YES…he scares me….
But actual fear of today, Friday the 13th…..no.

But…I lost track of my point…..(Gosh Kelly…..airhead!)
I guess I’m just excited with all the promise that today holds!

Today is not only a “maybe scary” day…..it’s also….. “Get a Different Name Day”.

No joke!

Now…the first thing that comes to my mind is the ‘Friends’ episode where Phoebe decided she was going to change her name to “Princess Consuela Bananahammock”. Remember that episode?
Her boyfriend, Mike (fiance) decides to change his name too:

Hysterical. Boy I miss ‘Friends’. That was a great show.

Again….let me TRY to stay on topic.

So today is National “Get a Different Name Day”
“……for those who are not fond of the name given to them. At birth, we are given a first name, a middle name and a last name. It wasn’t our choosing. Rather, our parents bestowed it upon us. If you like your name, good for you.”

But if you don’t….

Then by all means…..TODAY BE KNOWN AS SOMEONE DIFFERENT!

Today my name will be:  “Coffee Lovin Work at Home Mom That Sells Avon and StampinUp Supplies.  And Yes…I Love It…and Yes I Make Money at It. And Yes…You Can Too. Shall I Sign You Up??”

This is SOOOOOOO much easier than explaining to people what I do all day. I can just shake hands with them and say…”Nice to meet you too…..I’m Coffee Lovin Work at Home Mom That Sells Avon and StampinUp. And Yes…I Love It…and Yes I Make Money at It. And Yes…You Can Too. Shall I Sign You Up??!”

Then I won’t get all these blank stares when I say I work at home. They’ll know immediately that I LOVE coffee (I consist of  about 77% coffee)  — and that I sell Avon and that I love scrapbooking and stamping and I sell StampinUp supplies because I love it so much! They’ll know immediately that I want them to sell Avon too and that I want them to join my scrapbooking and stamping group and become a StampinUp Demonstrator as well!

GOSH….the relief!

This is a BOON for those of us that work at home. Think if the infinite possibilities for us today?!

So get out there….change your name….declare yourself…..whatever name you want! And even better…work your home business into that name and shout it at the roof tops.

Carpie Diem!

Sincerely,
Coffee Lovin Work at Home Mom That Sells Avon and StampinUp. And Yes…I Love It…and Yes I Make Money at It. And Yes…You Can Too. Shall I Sign You Up?

Become an  Avon Representative
“Create your own financial security! Start your own Avon business!”
StampinUp
“For those that love scrapbooking/stamping and want to work at home!”

"Getting More Customers"

What are you doing today to promote your home business more?

With the economy not so….uuhhhh….fantastic – maybe putting more effort into your home business
is time and energy well spent right now.

I know for me…I am really focusing on my Avon business and my StampinUP business.

For example, I invested more money than usual in campaign brochures this month because I am aiming to try and get two new customers a week.  That may not seem like much…..but most customers spend $25 a month. So that would be $100 more in orders a month if I reach my goal.
I am always amazed at how many people want to see an Avon brochure – Avon makes that one of the easiest aspects of the business…. their brochures are incredible. So many deals….and awesome products.

So…one of my goals this week is two new Avon customers.

I am also aiming at building my team. So my goal is to add two new team members this month. With a $10 sign up fee (for an Avon kit) – I offer everyone I talk to the opportunity to sign up. If you don’t mention it – no one will know!

I have a long time friend in Indiana – and she’s always bought Avon. One day…I said to her….”You should just sell Avon and get the discount….that way you have your own business, with tax write-offs, you get the discount and it’s $10 to start! She signed up! I mean…..this is one of my friends and I never once talked to her about signing up with Avon?! Why didn’t I talk to her sooner?!

So my second goal – sign up two new Avon team members this month.

Setting goals is a great way to keep your home business growing. Each week….make a list. Try and follow through! You will not believe the results of just sticking to it and setting goals.

To OUR success!

Kelly