Six Steps Towards Becoming a Work at Home Mom (WAHM)

Inquiring moms want to know. How do you become a work at home mom? It's not easy. Not only are there the challenges of working at home but there are also the challenges of becoming a mom who works at home. After many years of working at home on and off again here is my advice for becoming a work at home mom.

Get personal. First, consider your personality. Sure, being a full time mom who works from home can sound great, but is your personality the type that will be satisfied with the limited amount of interaction that comes with working from home? Are you disciplined, focused, organized (even if it's in your own little way), flexible, personable, independent? Are you assertive enough to go out and get the stay at home job or to market your own talents? These are all personality traits of many successful work at home moms.

Start with what you know. What do you know? What experiences can you bring to a work at home opportunity? Who do you know that can help you network, market, get your business up and running and keep it running.

What do you want? What sort of work at home job are you considering? Do you want to work from home for another business? Do you want to start your own business or service? Or do you want to try to find a way that more of your work could be done from home, say with a flex scheduled or job sharing?

Now that you know what sort of working from home job you want here are some tips for going and getting it.

Make a list and check it twice. If you are considering a work from home job that is a business or service that you start up on your own then making a list and checking it twice is essential. What things are you good at? Do you have a great sense of style and know where all the bargains are as well as what "fits" and what doesn't? Then maybe you could consider a personal shopping business. Are you crafty, into scrapbooking or photography? Why not begin making your own jewelry and selling it on online stores like Etsy.com as well as at local events? Are you good at communicating? Why not freelance writing or blogging, consulting or other freelance opportunities? Are you wonderful with pets? Or maybe your gift is organizing and keeping it organized. Why not start a pet sitting and grooming business or a personal concierge? In home daycare, after hours babysitting and housekeeping are also popular work at home start it yourself alternatives. Whatever you decide to do when starting your own business make sure it is something you love and that you are outstanding at.

Work at home working for others. Could much of your job be done from home? Providing employees the opportunity to work from home has many advantages to both the employer and the employee. Some employees are more productive. Some take less time off work making the most of the time they are there, as well as spending less time sick. Why not make a plan of those jobs that could be done from home and approach your employer with some thoughts and recommendations on job sharing or working from home? While working at the University, I had remote access to everything. This way if I had to call in sick I could still retrieve voicemail, e-mail and conduct quite a bit of business from home.

Other working at home for others opportunities include working for franchises such as Avon, Mary Kay, Thirty One, and Close to My Heart (scrapbooking). Yes, it means selling, and much of it is done at night leaving your husband home with the children in the evening while you host events. But the day can be spent with the children, some selling and the general needs of the business.

There are also "Virtual Assistant" opportunities. This means you may keep a business person's calendar, make travel plans, schedule appointments, and do billing or a myriad of other tasks from home. With all the technology available this is becoming a popular option for independent business people and those wanting a work from home opportunity.

Spam and scam I am. One of the most important things to do when making, creating or getting your work at home job is to avoid scams. There are a few simple rules to follow. If they want money for any reason, it most probably is a scam. I won't say that there aren't legitimate online services out there to help you, because there probably are. But I can say that in my personal experience I haven't encountered them. The other rule of thumb is to do your research before giving out your personal information to any hiring service or potential client or contact to avoid spams, scams and identity theft.

Becoming a WAHM is not easy. There will be false starts and stops. It will take time to develop your business and earn money. You may go through several different plans or ideas before hitting upon the right one. Patience is a virtue, but becoming a work at home mom (or parent) can be done and once it is you can enjoy all those reasons to love being a work at home mom.

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