Can A Work From Home Business Be A Success?

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Whether you’re just starting out in the working world or thinking about getting back into the swing of things after a few years’ absence, it’s not uncommon to want to work from home. The bureaucracy of a big company can feel daunting and dealing with a commute and overbearing bosses might just ruin it altogether.

So consider working from home. Don’t dismiss the idea as silly or impractical. Though many first time entrepreneurs or those business owners working in an unconventional environment are considered “high risk” by banks or investors, it shouldn’t stop you from working out of your home if it makes sense for you.

Read on for three reasons why a work-from-home business can be a success.

Flexibility can boost efficiency

Though many workers fear there might be too many distractions working from home, in reality, you will likely have more time to commit to the business. Instead of working a rigid 9-5 schedule with an hour-long lunch break, mandatory meetings, and plenty of chit-chatting with coworkers, you can work the hours that make the most sense throughout the day. For instance, it might suit you to work early in the morning before the rest of the family wakes up, or you can work from 10 am – 10 pm with plenty of breaks in between. Without a commute, you can accomplish more and achieve an appropriate work/life balance.

Inspiration is more likely to strike

When you’re stuck in a cubicle, it can be hard to get inspired and stay focused. When you’re free to roam the neighborhood, hit up the local coffee shop, or even multi-task in your home, you might find you’re struck with sudden bouts of creativity. That’s not to say that working in an office stifles creativity, but many artists, designers, and writers find that working outside a stuffy office is better for the overall quality of their work.

It’s not so different from a typical job

With recent technological updates, working from home just isn’t all that different from being in a more traditional work environment. You can dial in to conference calls, Skype internationally, do Google hangouts with vendors or colleagues, and collaborate through Google drive or using screen share software. The barriers for working from home are significantly lower than in decades past. Now is the ideal time to work remotely and enjoy the perks of working from home. Business owners who work from home today are taken seriously by their colleagues and peers and in some circles it even carries a bit of cache.

If you’re thinking about starting a business and working out of your home either full or part time – don’t fear failure. These days, an at-home business can be as successful as any other type of organization and in many cases, allows the owner the flexibility and freedom to accomplish more with lower overhead. For more information about starting a business for the first time and getting set up with the home office basics, click here.

Book Review: Work Women Want Work at Home or Go Part TIme by Jennifer Forest

Work when you want, care for your kids and still make money.

This book shares 12 mothers' journeys to creating money at home or in part-time jobs.

Explore how to make home-based income: Etsy, Elance, eBay, party plan, blogging, multilevel marketing, share trading, daycare, creative entrepreneurs and professional service businesses.

This practical book teaches:

• 14 ways to make money at home
• How to negotiate a part-time job
• The 7 questions that help you find your authentic work
• What it really takes to make money at home
• An 8-step action plan to get you started

Create the life you want for you and your family today

“After the birth of my daughter, I kept meeting other mothers who
wanted to work at home. They asked the same questions I had: 
How can I make decent money and still be there for my children? 
How can I work from home or go part-time? In Work Women Want, I set out to find them an answer with
my experiments, experiences, research and interviews.
This book shares 12 mothers' journeys to creating money at home or in part-time jobs.

Explore how to make home-based income: Etsy, Elance, eBay, party plan, blogging, multilevel marketing, share trading, daycare, creative entrepreneurs and professional service businesses.

This is not a book for every woman, not even every mother. If
you have ever asked how to make decent money but still care for your children,
I wrote this book for you.”

 

My Review

As a mom, I’ve struggled between wanting/needing to work yet wanting/needing to stay at home with my kids. I had Aidan very early, he ended up being 16 weeks premature. So even though I worked while he was in the NICU for those 3 1/2 months, as soon as he came home I quit my job to be with him.

I did start college, but from home. There was absolutely no way that I could continue working. Not only would Aidan be on my mind continuously if I DID work, but he was just too small to leave with a babysitter. He had a low immune system, so it wasn’t a good choice to return to work.

How would I make money? What was I going to do? I had a little grants coming in now and then but other than that I had absolutely no income. Only Adam was bringing in the money, and I felt my independence slipping away- but I wanted to be with Aidan at home. If only there were a way to do both…

The best thing about it is that at the very beginning of the book she lets you QUESTION yourself and your personality to determine if you are right for working at home and actually accomplishing your tasks.

She lists 4 personality type and learning tests, so that you can really to get to see your personality up close and personal. The benefits of this is that you can tell what your weaknesses and strengths are.

When you know how your personality works well with certain work, how  you best learn, and what your strengths and weaknesses are you are bound to pick the best work at home job for yourself. Not to mention getting more work done!

Combining a work at home career is definitely possible if that’s what you want. Something so that you can have a schedule that is movable so that you can be there 100% for your children.

This isn’t just a show-tell book. She actually interviews 11 women who are also mothers who DO and have succeeded working from home. They all have different life stories, different reasons for wanting to work from home- but they share their stories and that’s my favorite part of this book.

She lists all the way to make money from home. They include: eBay sales, share trading, party planning, blogging, and providing professional services. She even takes it deeper and tries some of them for herself to see what kind of skills they require.

I love that with each woman she goes into detailed questions of how they got where they are, what are the ups and downs of what they do, what’s the best and easiest avenue for getting there, and is what they do WORTH it? Is it worth the time they put in? Is the money good? What amount of time they have to put in to be actually making money.

This gives you the REAL down low on what you NEED to know. What kind of time do you have to put into your own work at home business? what are you interested in actually doing and can you take the road to get there without becoming overwhelmed?

Work Women Want is an amazing book for women that want to make decent money and still be there for their kids. I love that she tells at the very beginning “if you are looking for a get rich quick scheme, this isn’t it.” There are so many people out there looking for ways to make millions, but all those books and DVDs are scams.

This book is REAL and totally motivational to those parents who don’t want to find a real way to be at home most of the time. I’m not saying that all of these options in the book are going to let you stay at home 24/7. Some of the party planning/selling options require you to visit people in their homes or throw parties at your home and invite others.

BUT you don’t have to choose that option, if it isn’t what you’re looking for. I would definitely recommend this book!

Buy IT: Work Women Want Work at Home or Go Part-Time ONLY $6.99 for your KINDLE!

Author Biography

After the birth of my daughter, I kept meeting other mothers who wanted to work at home. They were asking the same questions I had. How can I be there for my children and still make decent money? How can I work at home or go part-time? Which one is right for me? In Work Women Want I set out to find them an answer.
Jennifer Forest is an author and heritage consultant. She has written four other books, traded shares and run a small business. Jennifer is on a quest chasing the promise made to her as a teenager: that women can have it all. Why can't mothers have time to take their children to the playground and still make decent money?

Visit her website

 

 

Jessica Renee