A Work-At-Home Mom Defines Success
by Barb Niehaus
My one year anniversary of entrepreneurship
is rapidly approaching in a matter of weeks.
It was with great trepidation and fear of the
unknown that I began my online venture.
I had telecommuted from my home office as
of 1987 but my position was one of an offsite
employee. For 13 years, I could count on a
comfortable weekly paycheck and as much job
security as one could have in this age of
"downsizing". My comfort zone fit like a
glove as I am someone who cringes at the thought
of change.
Alas, as they say, 'All good things must
come to an end'. New management appeared on the
corporate scene and unemployment soon loomed
on the horizon, The notion of securing a "real:
job (a 9-5 position working outside the home)
was never a consideration. Once you have telecommuted,
it's highly unlikely that you ever "go back" to
the ratrace.
My job search began in earnest. I frantically
searched for a replacement at-home career.
Site after site promised , "We'll get you
a $40,000 a year job. No experience necessary!"
soon led me to realize the only ones getting rich
were those making the false promises.Why would
I submit any fee to find a job, I asked myself.If
an employer is "legit" there should never be a fee
involved to land a job. I learned that many others
desperate to work at home like myself were being
caught in scams. "There must be a site that offers
WAH jobs with no money required", I thought. So...
If I couldn't find one, I'd start one! I would
create a website where visitors could go and
find links to telecommuting and home-based
business opportunities with no strings attached.
In conjunction with the site, I would publish
a daily newsletter featuring work-at-home job
listings, business articles and tips and more.
I sat down and mapped out my goals for the coming
year:
1) A venture that would allow me to continue
being home with my 4 kids and to be a "hands-on"
mom. The flexibility to work my schedule around
theirs.
2) As with any new business, I knew I would be
working for no income at the start. After 6
months, I was hoping to be at the point where
my newsletter would support itself in terms of
paid advertisers, albeit how small the revenue.
3) My targeted newsletter subscriber base
would reach 1,000 by year's end.
4) Very little capital, if any, was to be allocated
for start-up expenses.
5) If I wasn't still enthused and in the
honeymoon phase after a year, I would reconsider
my business.
As I approach my year's end, I feel that
I have reached, and at times, surpassed my
original goals set:
I am able to work around my family's schedule.
Rising at 4:00 a.m. allows me time before they
are on the move to answer email or research
content for the day's newsletter. I take a
morning break to get them off to school, work
4-5 additional hours until the bus deposits them
at home. IF time permits after dinner, I'll check
my email but sincerely try not to cut into our
family time. My office door is shut and my work
day is over.
By six months, I was able to accept paid
advertising. My rates were extremely low
but my newsletter was self-supporting!The
income was enough to cover my ISP, web host
and other business expenses.
One year later my subscriber base consists
of 2,700 daily readers - 2 1/2 times my
targeted number!
My start-up costs have been virtually nil.
As a former consignment shop owner, I thrive on
thriftiness (all right- I'm downright cheap
my friends tell me). My website was created
at no cost in exchange for ads in my newsletter.
There are an abundance of free sites on the Internet
where I continually promote my site and
newsletter. Ad swaps are popular and a super
avenue for spreading the word about your
business or product. I am proof that you don't
need to spend huge amounts of money to start with.
To date, I still love what I'm doing. I have
acquired many faithful readers, some of whom
have turned into friends. My Internet colleagues
have been super supportive and have been so
instrumental in my online growth. How many of the working population can make
the claim that they love
going to work each day. It makes it even better
that my "commute" to work is a 10 foot walk to
my home office.
Have I succeeded? Without a doubt! My salary
currently is 1/2 of my former job but..
I'm doing what I have a passion for and most
importantly, I am able to be here with, and for,
my family. Now that's success!
©2000 Barb Niehaus
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About the author: Barb Niehaus is a veteran telecommuter of 13 years who
is committed to helping others find their "perfect
balance between work and family". To Subscribe to
Barb's Free Daily Newsletter featuring WAH jobs, Business
articles and tips, Freebies and more, momsworkingathome-subscribe@egroups.com
Visit her site at: MOMS-HOME-WORK.COM
