Your work-at-home starting place. 101:

Copyright, Legal Notice and Disclaimer:

This publication is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable

international, federal, state and local laws, and all rights are reserved, including resale

rights: you are not allowed to give or sell this Guide to anyone else. If you received this

publication from anyone other than CWAHM.com, you have received a pirated copy. Please

contact us via e-mail at contact@cwahm.com and notify us of the situation.

Please note that much of this publication is based on personal experience and anecdotal

evidence. Although the author and publisher have made every reasonable attempt to

achieve complete accuracy of the content in this Guide, they assume no responsibility for

errors or omissions. Also, you should use this information as you see fit, and at your own

risk. Your particular situation may not be exactly suited to the examples illustrated here; in

fact, it is likely that they will not be the same, and you should adjust your use of the

information and recommendations accordingly.

Any trademarks, service marks, product names or named features are assumed to be the

property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied

endorsement if we use one of these terms.

Finally, use your head. Nothing in this Guide is intended to replace common sense, legal,

medical or other professional advice, and is meant to inform the reader.

Copyright © 2010 CWAHM.com. All rights reserved worldwide.

Table of Contents

Is It Really Possible To Work From Home? ......................................................................... 4

Work-at-home Option #1: Telecommuting For an Employer ............................................. 6

Work-at-home Option #2: Telecommuting as an Independent Contractor ....................... 8

Work-at-home Option #3: Own A Direct Sales/MLM Home-Based Business .................. 10

Work-at-home Option #4: Begin Your Own Unique Company......................................... 12

Making A Great Decision................................................................................................... 13

Be Realistic ........................................................................................................................ 14

Profile of a Successful CWAHM ........................................................................................ 15

Do I Need a Business Plan? ............................................................................................... 17

Working at Home . . . With Kids ........................................................................................ 19

Avoiding Scams: Get A Home-Based Job Without Getting Scammed .............................. 21

Organizing Your Work-at-Home Office ............................................................................. 23

Profile of a Successful CWAHM ........................................................................................ 25

Entrepreneur Tips to Success in Running a Home-Based Business .................................. 26

NEVER (Never, Never, Never) GIVE UP ............................................................................. 28

4 | W o r k A t H o m e 1 0 1

IS IT REALLY POSSIBLE TO WORK FROM HOME?

You're here because you're curious about working from home. You know others

do it, but aren't sure how they do it. This course is designed to give you an overview of the

choices available that will allow you to work from home. When deciding between a standard

job and a home-based business, it is important to consider the expenses incurred in both. For

those considering a second job, many do not take into account the numerous extra expenses

that go along with childcare, clothing, gas, etc.

Crown Financial Ministries offers a worksheet online to help you determine how much you will

actually make once these expenses are deducted from your income. By

breaking it down and seeing the guideline, you can see just how much extra

you really bring home each week. According to the Bureau of Labor

Statistics, over 19 million people worked from home (either part-time or

full-time) in 2001. It's a growing trend in our society with the number

steadily rising as many people are leaving the workplace in favor of a work-at-home

career.

Let's briefly talk about the four main ways to make working from home possible:

Telecommute for your current employer - Many employers are beginning

to see the benefits of allowing their employees to work from home. If you have

a job that would be possible to do from home ask your employer to consider it. More and more

employers are allowing employees to telecommute. This is an easy way to work from home

while maintaining the security of a stable career. You must realize, though, that working from

home may limit you in terms of advancing in your company. It's important to think through the

sacrifices that you may need to make in your situation to work from home.

Telecommute as an independent contractor - There are many companies that hire

independent contractors to do work such as data entry, transcription and customer service from

home. This can be an incredible opportunity as long as you're willing to keep track of your own

taxes and aren't relying on the employer for insurance and other perks. There are many benefits

to the company also, such as lower wages, not needing to provide insurance, or being able to

offer a commission based position. The company may also choose to hire home workers so that

they do not need to pay for space to house an office full of employees.

Own a direct sales/MLM home-based business - Many times these types of home-based

businesses are overlooked, but they truly can bring an income and allow you to work from

home. However, doing your research before joining a company is very important. Look for

representatives of the company to speak with and, if possible, try to find someone who has

5 | W o r k A t H o m e 1 0 1

been a representative for the company, but is no longer. They may be able to share some of the

negative aspects of the business with you. Also check with the Better Business Bureau and make

sure that the company that you are considering has a good reputation.

Begin your own home-based business - It can seem overwhelming to start your own

business, but if you start small and have a good business plan it can be a very rewarding

decision. You are able to be your own boss, have a very flexible schedule and work only when it

is convenient for you. When considering beginning your own business, make sure that you have

found a niche that will allow you to serve customers that no one else is serving. When I began

searching for a way to work from home, I spent time researching the different work at home

websites available and realized that there was not a place for Christians to network and help

one another work from home. I filled this niche with my website, CWAHM.com, and the

response has been amazing. If you take your time and find a niche or unique product, you will

have a much higher chance at success. If you decide to begin your own business, you must also

check your state and city about zoning laws, licensure requirements, etc. Contact an accountant

to find out what percentage of sales you need to set aside for taxes as well as whether or not

you'll need to make quarterly tax payments.

Working from home is a big commitment and it can take some time to

get started. It's important to take the time to research what type of at-home position will work

best for you. If you would like to telecommute, speak with your employer to see if it is a

possibility. If you are looking into a home-based business, speak with others from the company

or find a niche that you can fill with your own business. Working from home can be a rewarding

choice and it IS possible.

6 | W o r k A t H o m e 1 0 1

WORK-AT-HOME OPTION #1: TELECOMMUTING FOR

AN EMPLOYER

Finding a work at home position can seem overwhelming. We have all heard the news stories of

being scammed by so-called work at home companies. However, with some basic information

under your belt, you can feel confident when researching home-based opportunities. There are

four main ways to make working from home possible.

Today we'll be talking about option #1, telecommute for your current employer. Many

employers are beginning to see the benefits of allowing their employees to work from home. If

you have a job that would be possible to do from home ask your employer to consider it. More

and more employers are allowing employees to telecommute. This is an easy way to work from

home while maintaining the security of a stable career. You must realize, though, that working

from home may limit you in terms of advancing in your company. It's important to think

through the sacrifices that you may need to make in your situation to work from home.

Here's what working at home for an employer looks like for one CWAHM:

Name: Janae Griebel

Company you work for: Steffens Law Office

Length of time with company: 1 year

Position & a little about what you do: Legal Assistant. I work on the

bankruptcy cases - preparing the petition and schedules, filing

documents with the Court, preparing letters. I'm also the unofficial tech

support - at least as far as software issues.

How did you find your telecommuting position? I was just sitting at

home one day, pondering how to make money from home. Several

months earlier, when our son was about 7 months old, I had quit my job

so that I could stay at home with him. I was having a hard time coming up with viable options. I

decided that my best option would be to stay in the legal field somehow, as I had about 8 years

of experience as a legal assistant. I just called a local attorney to see if he needed help. It just so

happened that he had just placed an ad for a legal assistant. Thankfully, he was very open to my

working from home and was very accommodating.

Are you an employee (employer withholds taxes) or an independent contractor (you withhold

your own taxes)? I am an employee.

7 | W o r k A t H o m e 1 0 1

How many hours a week do you work from home? I work about 10-15 hours a week from

home. I also work one day a week at the office.

How do you balance work and family? Working from home does make it harder finding a

balance. While I do some of my work while my son is awake, I try to do most of my work while

he is napping. Above all, my family comes first. If that means getting up and working before

Aiden gets up or staying up late, then so be it.

Tips for other moms who want to find work at home employment? Don’t give up. It is possible

for everyone to find a way to work from home.

I agree wholeheartedly with Janae. It can be done - you can find a way

to work from home. It may take some time and some "elbow grease," but it can be done.

8 | W o r k A t H o m e 1 0 1

WORK-AT-HOME OPTION #2: TELECOMMUTING AS AN

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

There are many companies that hire independent contractors to do work such as data entry,

transcription and customer service from home. This can be an incredible opportunity as long as

you're willing to keep track of your own taxes and aren't relying on the employer for insurance

and other perks.

The trend of telecommuting is on the rise as employers begin to see the savings involved in

both gas and office space. With gas prices at an all-time high, many Americans are looking for

ways to do less driving and more companies than ever before are offering telecommuting

options to their current employees and searching for at-home employees to fill open positions.

The question for the job seeker is now how to find these opportunities.

Below are five methods you can use to find a telecommuting position.

1. Check your local newspaper. When I began my search for an at-home career, I found

my first employer through the Classified Ads section of our hometown paper. I was wary

at first, but after thoroughly researching the company through means such as the Better

Business Bureau (BBB), visiting the corporate office and meeting some of their current

employees I found the company to be legitimate.

2. Sarch online using website such as HireMyMom.com, Monster.com and Dice.com.

However, listings found online must be researched carefully to avoid the scams that

abound on the Internet. There are also websites that will you allow to do job research in

your own community. One such website is Craigslist.com on which you can choose a city

and then refine your search with keywords such as "telecommute."

3. Posting your resume on websites such as Hotjobs.com is a third way to locate at work-

at-home job. Putting your resume online can bring employers to you, depending on

your skills and qualifications. Another bonus of an online resume is that you can easily

direct prospective employers to view it. It also makes life a bit simpler when applying for

jobs, because you can attach your online resume instead of typing out your job history,

qualifications, and so on, each time you apply for a job. When posting your resume on

the web, be sure to create an accurate and impressive representation of your abilities.

You don't want to be wordy when describing past job experience, but you do want to be

specific about the roles you've held as well as your accomplishments.

4. Open a phone book and call businesses in your area. (Like Janae from yesterday's

lesson did!) For example, if you're interested in doing administrative work, you might

contact churches and small businesses in your area to see if they are looking for office

9 | W o r k A t H o m e 1 0 1

help. Even if they are not currently seeking help, they may know of another business

owner who is.

Along those same lines, the fifth way to become a telecommuter is to create your own

opportunity. For example, instead of finding a company that will hire you as an administrative

assistant from home, consider starting your own business as a Virtual Assistant. You can offer

your services to many companies, which can both increase your income potential and allow you

the flexibility of deciding which jobs you'd like to accept.

You can also create your own telecommuting position by talking with your current employer

about work-at-home possibilities. More and more companies are finding that at-home

employees are just as productive as those in the office, if not more. Companies also benefit

financially by lessening office space and avoiding the costs of many office supplies. Many

companies who are not ready to hire at-home workers will allow their current employees to

work one or two days from a home office, so be sure to discuss this option.

The telecommuting field has become highly competitive as more and

more people find that working from home is a possibility. Searching for a telecommuting

position can be daunting, but by looking in strategic places such as online and in your local

newspaper, you'll have a much better chance. No matter, how you find your telecommuting

position, make sure it's something you would enjoy doing and also something you can make

money at.

10 | W o r k A t H o m e 1 0 1

WORK-AT-HOME OPTION #3: OWN A DIRECT

SALES/MLM HOME-BASED BUSINESS

These types of home-based businesses sometimes get a bad rap, but they truly can bring in an

income and allow you to work from home. However, doing your research before joining a

company is very important.

Some things to think about when considering a home-based business:

Start by making a list of your interests. Try to find a company whose service or products excite

you. There is nothing worse than trying to sell something that you don't believe in.

Ask about fees. Some businesses will offer a very low fee to join, but will also require a monthly

commitment. You'll want to make sure you know about these ahead of time, so that you won't

be caught by surprise when the bill arrives. (Check out our Home Business Comparison for

answers to questions like these!

Read the fine print. Make sure that you are aware of things such as whether or not the business

you're considering accepts credit cards payments from customers. Also, ask if the company

handles these payments or if the fees involved with accepting credit cards payments will be your

responsibility.

Decide what you are willing to do. Whether you're willing to do things like home parties, selling

online, spending time on the phone and other ways of doing business. Look for a business that

meets your needs.

Find out how long the company has been in business. A company like Mary Kay or Partylite will

have an established reputation that you can use to your benefit. On the other hand, a new

business such as Uppercase Living or Send Out Cards will allow you to enter at the ground floor.

Look for representatives of the company to speak with. If possible, try to also find someone

who has been a representative for the company, but is no longer. They may be able to share

some of the negative aspects of the business with you.

Research. Check with the Better Business Bureau and make sure that the company that you are

considering has a good reputation.

Check for Scams. You can also go to websites such as Snopes.com, which lists scams and myths

to help you avoid them. There are also Work-at-Home Mom (like CWAHM) websites all across

the internet full of information about home-based business.

11 | W o r k A t H o m e 1 0 1

Here's what owning a direct sales/home based business looks like for one CWAHM:

It's always encouraging to read about women who are working from

home and finding success. One such mom is Gina Neef, who I came met

through CWAHM a few years ago. Gina kindly agreed to share with me a

little about herself, her business and how she's made it all work:

Tell us a little about your business. I open wholesale accounts for a

wellness company from the comfort of my home. We manufacture

about 400 different products that are 'green' type products. Many just

want to be customers and others refer other customers to earn an

income. I'm passionate about helping moms stay home with their children and helping people

shop for healthier products.

How did you decide on your business? The products are necessities that everyone has to shop

for on a regular basis and they're all safer and better for the environment. They really do make

a difference. Therefore, this business is recession proof and in this day and time, that's very

important!

Name the one thing you love best about your business. That I don't have to stock, sell, deliver

or do home parties. I can work strictly from home and schedule my time around my family.

How do you market your business? I market many ways - word of mouth, on-line, off-line in

magazines and publications.

What is your biggest lesson you've learned. To work with those that are motivated to make a

change in their lives.

How do you balance work/family? I live by a calendar and schedule all my family time and

work time on one calendar.

What tip would you give to those wishing to start a business? Take it seriously, be patient,

know that there will be some sacrifice involved and made a decision to do it, not just try it.

I challenge you to think anew about home-based businesses. These

are no longer the cliche' "Avon lady calling" businesses of the past. There are lots of amazing,

unique companies available today. Think through your interests and see if one of these

businesses is a good fit for you!

12 | W o r k A t H o m e 1 0 1

WORK-AT-HOME OPTION #4: BEGIN YOUR OWN

UNIQUE COMPANY

If you have a great idea, a unique product or an idea of how you can fill a niche, meet a need

than this option may be right for you. I began my work-at-home journey as a telecommuter

doing data entry for a local company. While I enjoyed data entry, I couldn't see myself

continuing it too many years in the future. I wanted to be doing something that I felt passionate

about, something that I could wake up each morning excited about. Lofty goals, right?

As I continued my research on working from home, I began to compile them on a website -

which eventually became what see you see today as CWAHM. I didn't initially intend for it to

become a business, but after a few months of developing it, I realized that I had found my

passion - helping other moms find ways to work from home and raise their children.

Take a minute to think about what your passion might be. If you could do anything for a career,

what would it be? Now, try to determine if there is a way that your passion could be turned

into a home-based business. It may be a great product idea. It may be a service that you would

offer others. It may be a website that will bring people together to accomplish a unique goal.

Whatever your passion is, that is your starting point.

So, now what? Now is when you begin (or better yet, continue) praying, asking God to guide

you in your decision making process. Next week we'll be talking about things like weighing your

home-based career options, how to make a good decision, and what to do about a business

plan.

Your "homework" over the next two days is to think through what

type of work-at-home opportunity you'd like to pursue and then write out what that

opportunity would look like for you:

Telecommuting Job - What type of work am I interested in - What skills do I bring to the table - What employers should I approach

Home-based Business - Do I want to sell a product or offer a service - Do I want to work with an established company or begin my own

13 | W o r k A t H o m e 1 0 1

MAKING A GREAT DECISION

The options available for working home are really almost endless. If we had unlimited resources

and creativity, we could come up with any number of ways to make an income without ever

leaving the comfort of home. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have unlimited finances,

resources … or even creativity. Because of this, we need to think through our options and try to

determine what will work best for us and our situation.

Did you take the time to work through the homework given at the end of the last lesson? Now

it’s time to take it a step further.

If you’ve decided that telecommuting is what you’d like to pursue, then you’ll need to start

working through the specifics:

Getting your resume ready and tailoring it to fit a telecommuting position.

Making sure that you have the proper equipment for the type of job you’re interested in.

(computer, software, extra phone line if needed, etc.)

Making plans and arrangements for how and where you’ll work (proper workspace, what hours

you’ll work, etc.)

If you’ve decided that a home-based business is in your future, you’ll need to start planning as

well:

Deciding upon the type of business you’ll be starting.

Securing the money that you’ll need to begin (based up the type of business you choose).

Purchasing equipment, inventory … any essentials to begin business that you can afford.

The best way to succeed is to have a plan. It may take you a few months to get that

telecommuting job, so be sure to plan for that occurrence. It may take a few months to save up

the money to start a business - even an inexpensive one. Thinking through each decision and

what you’ll need to do to be successful is ultimately you’ll achieve your dreams.

It may feel like planning takes some of the excitement out of the decision - I remember feeling

that way, at least. In the long run, though, you’ll be thankful that you took your time and made

great decisions.

14 | W o r k A t H o m e 1 0 1

BE REALISTIC

Once you’ve decided upon the work-at-home job or business that you feel is right for you, it’s

important to stay realistic. Expecting to jump right in and make a solid, steady income will lead

to doubt and discouragement. Instead follow these simple guidelines to “realistic success.”

Set Income Goals. Choose an attainable income that you’d like to earn and start working

towards it. Each day, do at least one thing that brings you closer to this goal.

Make a Plan. Brainstorm ways that you can grow your business each day. Even if it’s something

as simple as a phone call to a potential client. Every action that you take will help motivate you

to take the next.

Think Ahead. Think through how you’ll handle the months (or even, in the beginning, years)

when your business doesn’t make as much as you’d like. Put a small amount aside each month

to help offset expenses during the lean months.

Don’t Compare. Looking at the success of others and holding yourself or your business up in

comparison will only lead to negative thinking. Instead, make a list of your successes - no

matter how small. Take the list out and read it through when you need a pick-me-up. And add

to the list every chance you get!

Pray (and don’t be afraid to be specific). When I first began in business, I asked

(actually, begged) God to help me make just enough to cover groceries and gas. I

knew if I could just cover these few expenses then my time spent on business

would be worthwhile. It would also give me just enough income, in addition to my

husbands, to make working from home possible. God has been faithful to answer

this prayer every week - every month since then. Many times it’s not quite the way

I expect, but that makes it even more amazing. It’s an awesome and humbling experience to

see God’s answer to your very specific prayers.

Help Others. By reaching out and helping others who may be new to business or struggling in

business you’ll find that your focus changes. One of the quickest ways to be encouraged is to do

just that - encourage someone else.

15 | W o r k A t H o m e 1 0 1

PROFILE OF A SUCCESSFUL CWAHM

Name: Megan M. Spears

Company Name: Disorder2Order

Website Address: www.disorder2order.com

Tell us a little about your business. First and foremost, I am a stay at home

mom of two boys (4 and 6). When I am not doing the SAHM things, I run my

own business as an organizing consultant and speaker. Creating household management

systems for busy families and new moms is my main focus. However, I do work with small

business owners, home office professionals as well as corporate clients in creating effective

systems. I love to teach (I knew I should have been an educator like my parents told me)

workshops and share my knowledge with people who want to learn how to be free from the

clutter in their lives. We no longer have the luxury of being disorganized.

How did you decide on your business? I started my business in 2004 after helping a friend

organize her photos for a scrapbook. She kept telling me how good I was at working with

people and that I should start my own business helping people get organized. At the time, my

first child was about a year old and I thought it might be fun to have something on the side. I

started my business with the intention that I would be doing it only part time for the next 5-6

years, in hopes that when the kids were in school full time, I could make a go of it as a full

time/part time gig.

Name the one thing you love best about your business. I love setting my own rules and taking

on what I feel is best. I had a period of time with the boys, that I really needed to focus 150% of

my time on them and it was nice to put the business on the back burner to focus on them,

when I had more free time, I started working more. I also love it when people tell me that I

have changed their life. It reminds me why I do what I do. It's happened more than once and it’s

an amazing feeling. I never feel like I am doing anything that extraordinary, but just helping

someone with a simple task like managing their mail can be life changing for some.

How do you market your business? I base most of my business on referrals and word of

mouth. I do have a website, blog and newsletter that I enjoy and builds my presence in the

marketplace. Another source is from speaking engagements and teaching classes. Reaching out

and talking to the masses gives me the exposure to tell people what I do and what I can do for

them. Almost every speaking gig, rewards me with clients.

16 | W o r k A t H o m e 1 0 1

What is your biggest lesson you've learned. The importance of asking for the referral,

appointment, meeting or opportunity to work with/for someone. If you are not comfortable

speaking out, self starting or being bold, it will be a real challenge for you starting your

business. You have to be somewhat aggressive and willing to put yourself out there. I know

there have been a lot of opportunities I have missed because I didn't 'ask,' but I have learned

overtime how to ask, and it's paid off.

How do you balance work/family? At first, it was really hard. I floundered not knowing what to

do when, for probably the first two years. With limited time and energy to work on work, it

made it hard to get much done. Family is always first for me, no matter what, so it did hamper

how much work I would get done. Now, my time and day is structured by a schedule that stays

the same (for the most part). It's important to draw the line on your time from the start.

Routine is key, not only for a business but for kids and a family!

What tip would you give to those wishing to start a business. I always have a lot to say to new

business owners, so here goes ... do your homework and write a business plan. Even if you are

not going to a bank to get money, write a business plan. As a small business owner, you don't

have a boss standing over you telling you what to do, so it's important that you know you can

hold yourself accountable in getting things done. If you have a business plan of sorts, you can

use it as a guide. Use every experience as a learning experience to make your business better,

and be prepared to wear every hat and don't be discouraged when people don't want to work

with you ... you won't make every client happy and that's okay. Step out of what has always

been comfortable. You are going to have to ask for business, ask for opportunities, so be sure

you are comfortable with that. How do you think I got to start writing for Jill at CWAHM? I

asked.

17 | W o r k A t H o m e 1 0 1

DO I NEED A BUSINESS PLAN?

A business plan is also, of course, a good way to begin. Even with a direct sales or MLM

business, you can still create a plan that includes how you'll get started, how you'll market and

goals for where you would like to see yourself in five, ten, fifteen years. Statistics show that less

than 50% of small businesses make it five years. If you want to beat the odds and build a

business that lasts, take the time to think about the details.

The plain truth is, business owners of any size that take the time to outline what they will offer,

what they'll need to start and what their goals are more likely to succeed.

What exactly is a business plan? It really isn't a mystery; it is your plan for making

your business a success. Not only will a good business plan help you in securing

funds for starting your business, it can help you think about every aspect of your

business, from who you plan to sell your services to, to what you'll need before you even start

selling your services.

You might even find yourself avoiding some common pitfalls of smaller businesses, such as not

anticipating enough funds to keep you going for the first year of business or realizing that you

may need assistance in an area you don't have experience in, such as technical support or

bookkeeping.

A business plan doesn't have to be dozens of pages long, but it should include basic information

about your goals in both the short and long term, your business and how you imagine you'll run

it, and what your start up costs will be. The following are a few things that should be included in

your business plan.

The first thing in your business plan should be your purpose. Think about what you want to

accomplish with your business and what your goals are. From there, describe your business.

Here you can describe exactly what your business is, when and where it was formed, the

structure of the business, who the owner is and who is operating it.

From there, you can describe your market. Who do you imagine your customers will be? Here,

you can also go into better detail about what you're offering, why there is a need for your

particular service or goods, and what makes your business better or different from your

competitors. From there, you can go on to explain how you intend to meet the needs

of your market. How are you going to produce your services or the goods you

intend to sell, and how are you going to deliver your goods or services to your

customers?

If you're not truly a one person business, include information about who your

18 | W o r k A t H o m e 1 0 1

staff is and what they will do, as well your suppliers.

The next thing in your business plan should be your time table. Do you want to reach a specific

goal in a certain amount of time? This is the area where you should detail what your financial

goals are.

Finally, outline your financial requirements for starting your business. This is not the area to

skimp -- if anything, overestimate the amount of money you'll need. Too many small businesses

fail to count on enough operating money at the beginning and find that they have to close their

doors all too soon. Don't make this mistake!

Really sit down and itemize everything you're going to need to get going, including advertising,

your business license or fees for setting up the structure of your business, computer software,

even keeping your utilities going in your home (if you don't have any other income), plus the

cost of operating your business for a fixed amount of time without profit.

Writing a business plan for your home based business shouldn't be something to be afraid of. If

anything, a business plan will help you focus, get all your goals and ideas on paper, and help

guide you in making your business a success.

About the Author:

Carrie Wilkerson is the voice of experience. From corporate life to teaching high school to

direct sales, she has 'been there and done that' professionally and personally. An 'overnight

mom' to 2 toddlers through adoption, her priorities instantly changed and so did her workplace.

She's now built several businesses and coached others to do the same while overcoming

extreme debt, losing 110lbs and having 2 more children, for a total of 4 children, ages infant

through 12! As 'The Barefoot Executive', Carrie and her network of experts have quickly

become the definite resource for helping women achieve extra income and career goals while

working from home. Visit: barefoot-executive.com

19 | W o r k A t H o m e 1 0 1

WORKING AT HOME . . . WITH KIDS

Since becoming a work-at-home mom, I've learned to type with my left-hand while holding a

baby with the other arm. I've learned that toddlers love to color on blank paper - they're

"working," just like mom. I've learned that while holding a baby, keeping an eye on the coloring

toddler, and typing with one hand I can also talk on the phone with the one open shoulder and

ear. :) When you're a work-at-home mom, you do what you need to in order to get it all done.

(And sometimes your day does include a nap!)

Depending on the type of home-based work that you do, having your children

around to be a part of things can be a wonderful part of the experience. However,

there are going to be times that you must simply have peace and quiet - whether it

be to make an important phone call, to finish work for deadline or a myriad of other reasons.

There are many ways to entertain your children while you work. Finding productive ways to

entertain them with can be more difficult. Outlined below are five constructive things that your

kids can do to give you a quiet moment.

Naptime

Working while your child is taking a nap is an easy way to have the quiet that you’ll need for

phone calls and other important tasks. If you have more than one child, try setting a specific

time for them to take a nap each day, so that they will come to expect it. Even a half hour a day

can make a difference in your workload.

If you have older children that are home during the day, they too need quiet time even if they

don’t necessarily sleep. It is good for children to have some time to themselves. They can play

quietly in their room, read or do another quiet activity.

Playtime

If your children are 4 years old or more, you can many times help them start an activity that

they can complete. Put a small table near your desk and allow them to play with

play dough, do a puzzle or a simple craft project. Take a break every so often

to check their progress and help them if needed.

With older kids, you can have them sit at the kitchen table or somewhere else

out of hearing range to do an activity or craft suitable for their age and interests.

20 | W o r k A t H o m e 1 0 1

Outdoor Time

When the weather cooperates, send the kids outside for some fresh air. Be sure that your

children are old enough and mature enough to handle time outside by themselves. If possible,

have a next door neighbor keep an eye on them. If you have a fenced in back yard, that is often

the safest possibility. Another option is to buy outdoor activities that can keep your children

occupied.

Computer Time

Allowing your children time on the computer can be a fun way for them to pass time quietly if

you are on the phone or doing other tasks. There are many educational websites and games

that they play online, such as SesameStreet.com, Noggin.com and BigIdea.com.

Many smaller children will also enjoy "typing." Open a blank document in your Word Processor

and make the font large. As they get older, they will become familiar with the letters and even

learn to type their name and other words.

TV Time

On the days when your child is sick or it is too cold to play outside, consider allowing them to

watch a movie or an allotted amount of TV time. Most children’s movies are kept short to keep

their attention and are also educational. Find movies and TV programs that meet your approval

and adhere to your morals and beliefs.

Working from home and being there for your children is one of the best gifts that you can give

them. However, there are always times when you will need the little ones quite while complete

necessary tasks. Use these five ideas to take the stress out of finding quiet time.

21 | W o r k A t H o m e 1 0 1

AVOIDING SCAMS: GET A HOME-BASED JOB WITHOUT

GETTING SCAMMED

So far, we've covered the different options that make working from home possible, we've

talked over some of the pro's and con's and we've heard stories from other successful moms.

Now it's time to get a bit more in-depth about the actual process of getting started in a work-

at-home career.

Working from home is a great way to supply the extra income a family needs so that one

spouse can stay home and raise the children. But many people are scared away from doing so

because of the scams that are prevalent today.

Although it can be hard to tell fact from fiction, it is possible. Many excellent work-at-home

opportunities are available. And, it’s well worth the time to explore them so you can start your

own business and enjoy the many benefits it provides. Following are several tips to avoid

work-at-home scams.

When researching companies that hire home-based workers, the best place to start is the

Better Business Bureau (BBB), which can provide information on disputes or other problems

involving a potential employer.

You’ll want to look for a pattern of “unresolved” or “unanswered” disputes, which will be an

indication that there is a problem with the company in question. By the way, complaints can

be filed against a company whether it’s a member of the BBB or not.

Next, perform an Internet search on the company you’re checking out to see what others

are saying. If you see a pattern of negative comments, often that’s an indication that you

may need to explore the company in more detail.

There also are Web sites such as BBBonline.com that will tell you some of the common

scams around, including the “work-from-home typing” scam.

Operators of scams often lure job seekers with promotions such as the ability to "earn

$35,000 a year," or a promise to "provide a list of companies" that will hire them.

Diana Ennen, author of Virtual Assistant: The Series has been a home-based word processor

more than 20 years. Ennen states, “Working at home as a typist is an excellent opportunity that

often only requires excellent secretarial skills. However, be cautious of offers guaranteeing a list

of companies that will hire you. The truth of the matter is that most of these companies aren’t

even aware they are on this list. There’s so much information available online today that there

is no need to fall for this scam.”

22 | W o r k A t H o m e 1 0 1

It’s also important to know the difference between paying for information about working from

home and actually investing in a home-based business. Most home-based businesses, such as

direct sales companies, are valid ways to make an income. However, because you need to make

an initial investment many people are confused and believe these to be scams as well.

Think about home-based businesses in terms of your local fast-food chain. A fast-food

restaurant will pay you if it hires you as an employee. However, in order to start your own

franchise of that same restaurant, you would need to make a monetary investment.

The same holds true when you begin a home-based business. You must make an investment,

but in return you receive the means to begin your own business—generally the paperwork

needed, marketing materials, and product for display.

Still, you must do your research when considering a home-based business. It’s important to

know things like the history of the company, its reputation, how many representatives are in

your area, and what quotas must be met.

Whether considering a telecommuting position or a home-based business, speak to others who

have worked with the company you are contemplating. Ask for references of other

employees/business owners in your area.

There are many legitimate ways to work from home, but when seeking a work-at-home

opportunity, it’s important to take your time and do your research.

Unfortunately, there are people who make it their primary goal to take money from the

unsuspecting. If you are thorough in your examination, you will not become one of their

victims. Remember the ages-old saying that still holds true today: If it looks too good to be true,

it probably is.

23 | W o r k A t H o m e 1 0 1

ORGANIZING YOUR WORK-AT-HOME OFFICE

It can be a real challenge as a work at home parent to maintain an organized home office. Many

times, the office or desktop is the last of our worries as we strive to raise our children, support

our spouses and run our home-based business. However, keeping up with the

clutter and chaos of your office may be just what you need to get you in a

working mindset and help you to be more efficient while working.

There a few simple things that you can do on a regular basis that will help to de-

stress organizing process:

Address your home office/desktop chaos in blocks of time. You may need to set aside just

a few hours, or you may need an entire day. Decide what will work for you and stick to it.

If it’s not possible for you to set aside a block of time, consider using a headset while you

are on the phone and be de-cluttering, too!

Have the necessities on hand: a trash can, pen, file folders, mail baskets and other

organization items that will enable you to sort, throw out and find a place for each item.

Envision your goal and purchase the supplies necessary to create that environment.

Clear the space you want to organize (the desk surface, one of the drawers, etc.). Then

make a pile of all the paper. Begin to evaluate each piece of paper, sorting it by

importance. Throw out as much as possible and find a place for each of the other items.

If you start to feel stressed, take a break. Make a goal of how far you’d like to get during

the time you have available and set an incentive for yourself if you reach your goal. It’s

always easier to complete a task when you know you’ll be rewarded.

Once you’ve organized your office, it’s important to take small steps every day to keep the

room clean and tidy. It’s very easy to fall back into the routine of piling things on your desktop

and around the room. There are five simple tasks that you can do daily to help maintain your

organized space:

Clean out your "Inbox." In today’s world this can apply to postal mail or email. Create a special

basket for postal mail that needs to be taken care of right away, and another for items that can

wait a day or two.

(To keep your email inbox under control, create folders within your email program. Keep what

needs to be done immediately in your inbox and distributed the rest into your folders. You can

also use "rules" to help separate email and make it easier to manage.)

24 | W o r k A t H o m e 1 0 1

Make sure all notes are transferred to your calendar, palm pilot or day planner. It is very

easy to pile up a desktop full of paper by writing every note on a Post-it. You can also create an

"Idea Book" to catalog all of your business ideas for future reference.

Remove all mail, catalogs & magazines from your desk. Put them in their

proper place as you receive them. This will considerably cut down the amount of

clutter on your desktop.

File as you go. This is the most basic and most important tip of all. If you file as

you go your records will be in order, your desktop will be clear and you will feel like a

professional.

Clean off your desktop each evening. There’s nothing better than sitting down at a clean

workspace each morning. It helps to keep your mind focused on your business and makes

finding important documents a snap.

By following these easy guidelines you will have a clean and organized home office in no time.

Having a clutter-free workspace is the first step in creating an organized and professional home-

based business.

25 | W o r k A t H o m e 1 0 1

PROFILE OF A SUCCESSFUL CWAHM

Name: Diana Ennen Company Name: Virtual Word Publishing Website Address: http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com

Tell us a little about your business. We offer publicity and marketing services

as well as PR coaching and Virtual Assistant coaching. I've also written

numerous books on how to start a virtual assistant business including Virtual

Assistant the Series: Become a Highly Successful Sought After VA and we

market that as well.

How did you decide on your business? I started back in 1985 and at the time I had been a

secretary for years. I took my secretarial skills and starting a word processing business. It was a

perfect fit. Through the years I've just build my niches in what I enjoyed the most.

Name the one thing you love best about your business. I absolutely love what I do. PR is so

exciting and motivating. When you land a magazine article , or get your client's sales that they

hadn't received before, it just feels awesome. I'm a very upbeat

How do you market your business? I mainly send out press releases and articles. I also do a lot of networking online. We also do a weekly blog talk radio show, which I feel is very beneficial. And finally, I have an ad in CWAHM newsletter, which I know brings results.

What is your biggest lesson you've learned. To always keep learning and growing in my

business. Find ways to do things better and do it. For example, recently I discovered a way to

send out press releases and articles in half the time.

How do you balance work/family? Carefully! It can be difficult at time, but I try my best. I will

often work weekends, but when I do it's Saturday morning and then I stop until Sunday night.

That allows me to feel like I have time off. I also try and not work any evenings. I will often get

back to work at night, but during the evening it's dinner and family time. Also, focus as much as

possible. When I'm working, I'm working and when I'm with family, I'm a mom and wife.

What tips would you give to those wishing to start a business? Do what you are passionate

about. You will be so much more successful when you love what you do. I never feel like I'm

working. I usually want more hours in the day to do more. Oh how that is different than in my

working days. Believe in yourself too. That's critical. Even in the beginning, when you don't have

a lot of confidence, know this is short-term and will change.

26 | W o r k A t H o m e 1 0 1

ENTREPRENEUR TIPS TO SUCCESS IN RUNNING A

HOME-BASED BUSINESS

How do you measure the success in your life? As a home-based working mom it’s so different

than the outside corporate world. I know for me, one day it can be a call from Borders that they

are accepting one of my books, where another day it can be that I finally got my 8-year-old to

go on a field trip at school. The last two she had missed being too scared to attend and instead

spent the day home, sick. Both days, I consider huge successes! Both days, I felt a real winner.

Home based success can mean the little things such as a day we get all our work done while

attending a sick child, or being one of the only parents able to attend a school function that

your daughter so eagerly anticipated. That’s what we are trying to achieve in our home-based

business, the best of both worlds. And having worked at home since 1985 I can truly say, it can

be done. As president of Virtual Word Publishing, I’ve enjoyed working at home while watching

my kids grow up and become just as motivated and determined to succeed in business and life

as I am. That’s one of the perks is they get to see what you do.

So how can you achieve this success for your business and family? How can you make more

good days than bad? Here are some tips:

Start Early: I find that by getting up an hour or so before everyone else, I can accomplish so

much more. That allows me the extra 10 minutes of devotional time, a few minutes to enjoy my

coffee alone, and then time to dig into my work. I usually save my peak work for this time as

this is truly when I’m at my best.

Regroup and Rebalance: So often home-based moms feel overwhelmed and unable to

accomplish anything because of this. Try breaking it all down. Take a day or

two and write down your typical day. What can you change to make it better,

to make it work? Often when it’s down in writing, it’s clearer to see where

changes can be made. Try to lump together tasks and delegate any tasks you

can. And above all else - avoid Guilt.

Eliminate time-robbers! We still have to cook dinner, (I tried, it didn’t work!)

but I don’t have to talk to my friend, who doesn’t work, for 45 minutes during my workday. Say

No!

Also, with my kids I found some of the work I actually could take outside or in another room.

There’s no rule that says I have to work at my desk. Perhaps you can create different

workstations around the home. Be creative.

27 | W o r k A t H o m e 1 0 1

Shortcuts to Success: What can you do to make your business run smoother? Constantly be

thinking of ways to improve upon your business.

Organization is naturally a big one. The more organized you are, the better you’ll be at all things.

Spend the time to organize and you’ll find you have more time than you ever thought possible.

Another shortcut for me was to create different books of materials that I frequently used so I

didn’t have to reinvent the wheel each time and it was right in front of me. Thus, I created

different 3-ring binder books of marketing letters, press releases, etc. Now when I want to write

a marketing letter or a new press release, I can draw upon some of the quotes from my other

letters and I find that often times I can use one of the letters I’ve already created.

Think about things that you can do for your business. Things that you use often, that you could

print out and possibly make a collection of, and then look to as a resource. Or what other times

savings tip could you think of that would help your business? Write them down. Now apply

them to your business.

Another thing I do is buy paper that has 3 ring holes already in it. When I print out a client’s e-

mail, or client’s article, I’ll immediately put it into their binder categorized by topic. I’m now able

to find things faster and also can see clearly all I’ve done with the clients. I also color coordinate

my clients files. When Client A calls, I grab my red folder and automatically jump into his work

mode. It saves me so much “think time.”

Focus on Success: Continue to see yourself as a success and focus on your goals. Success is

within your reach when you continually focus on your goals, both for your business and your

family.

About the author:

Diana Ennen is the author of numerous books including Virtual Assistant: The Series, Become a

Highly Successful, Sought After VA. She specializes in publicity and book marketing and is

president of Virtual Word Publishing.

28 | W o r k A t H o m e 1 0 1

NEVER (NEVER, NEVER, NEVER) GIVE UP

Working from home can be a very rewarding decision. There are so many benefits including

freedom to create your own schedule, choosing the type of business that you want to

represent, and being able to raise your children yourself. However, running a business can also

become a very stressful situation. It takes time to build a successful business and many

entrepreneurs become discouraged if they don’t achieve immediate results. Often times they

give up too soon and regret it later. This doesn’t have to happen to you. Let us share with you

what we found to be two top secrets to help you achieve success at home.

One important thing that many work-at-home moms do not recognize is that it can take six

months to a year at minimum for your business to be successful financially. If you are aware of

this going into the business and have planned accordingly, then you are already one step ahead

of the game and won’t become unnecessarily discouraged.

Also, be aware that the time frame it takes to start a business will vary depending on the type

of business that you are starting. For example, for those that are starting in direct sales, you

may be able to jump in, hold some home parties, and see an income right away. In this case,

you just need to focus on maintaining this income to keep it successful.

However, if you are starting an Internet business selling your own products or services, it may

take much longer to see the fruits of your labor. For some, it can take a year or even two to

create a “presence” online and for people to recognize and seek out your products. You will

find that the benefits are well worth the time and effort in the end, but it can be discouraging

waiting to see a profit.

So, how does a person make it in the work-at-home world? I think the two most important

aspects of running your own business from home are creativity and persistence.

Creativity —Be creative in how you market your products and/or services. Start by thinking of

ways that you can reach customers that will make you stand out from others who offer similar

types of products. Design contests, free offers and other types of marketing strategies that will

bring customers to your website. Then, try to determine what your customers are looking for

once they reach your website and offer the most popular products on your front page. Keep in

mind that it’s important to keep your website fresh so consider changing the items or text on

your website’s front page often. This will continue to pique the interest of your customers each

time they visit and encourage them to come back.

29 | W o r k A t H o m e 1 0 1

Persistence —This is key when you are running a business from home. Don’t start out strong

marketing yourself in every way possible and then simply stop marketing because you haven’t

seen many sales. Most profitable businesses must continually be marketing their services to

keep it successful. Try to think of a successful business that does no advertising. Can they just

sit back and let the sales roll in from their website? Not really. It just doesn’t work that way.

EVERY business must continue to advertise in some way to stay successful. For example, we

found at Christian Work At Home Moms that those that achieve the most success are the

consistent advertisers, the ones who advertise regularly and keep their businesses, banners,

and other promotions in front of their potential clients.

This does not mean that you must spend hundreds of dollars a month to advertise your home-

based business. What it does mean is that you must be persistent in the advertising that you

choose to do. Budget your advertising dollars in a way that you can do a small amount

consistently. Get involved in groups online and ask advice from other successful moms.

Whatever you do, don’t stop talking about your business!

And most importantly, don’t give up. Success IS possible. Take the time to be creative in how

you are marketing your business. Be persistent and don’t expect profits immediately. Set

realistic goals for your business and be patient while your business grows into something you

can be proud of. Soon you’ll be among the millions of work-at-home moms who are enjoying it

all: Being home with the kids, financial freedom, and the pride of having their own home-based

business.