By Jessica Ketterer

I'm a work at home mom because I wanted to spend this precious time with my two beautiful girls while still contributing to the family finances. Perhaps this rings a familiar bell with you. My girls are 2 and 5 and to me, this is the most impressionable time in their lives. Because of my work at home career I am able to spend that time with my girls, still contribute to the family income and enjoy my work. I have a work at home job and nothing can hold me back! I have unlimited income potential and major career advancement opportunities. I work when, where, and with whomever I choose! I enjoy my work and my work let’s me enjoy my family!

I Love Being a Work at Home Mom!

If you’ve ever wanted to become a stay at home mom or have considered a work at home career in direct sales, here are my best tips to help you realize the dream that I have.

Stay Motivated

At the very start of your new business as a work from home mom, establish a list of reasons WHY you decided to go into this business. Was it because you needed more money, liked being home with your children, wanted more friends, liked the idea of gaining recognition for a job well done? What ever reason(s) you started your home business will forever be your motivator.

Take time to keep a small journal, and write down the specific reasons why you decided to start this work at home journey in the first place. When you need motivation, you can look at those notes and say “Oh, well, I AM making more money, and I AM spending precious time with my children” That simple little journal will make you realize why you are here, and where you want to go as a work at home mom.

The first few weeks of business are so full of enthusiasm. Small business ideas pop into your head while you’re driving, shopping even showering. You have to use this most enthusiastic time to write things down! Make notes of new small business ideas, keep a record of things that you did that helped your business. Example: onenote may say, “Self, I offered Sally the benefits of hosting a party today. She was so excited she booked 2, one at home and one at work” or “Self, My auto insurance lady asked me about my new products today when I went in to pay my bill. She says she saw the flyer in the park with her daughter yesterday” Eventually the newness of your work at home business will start to wear off, and you will find yourself questioning how you got to that point. This is when those ‘self-notes’ will be critical to mom’s home business survival. We all know that if a Direct Seller/Party Plan Consultant has an empty calendar, she is temporarily out of business! You don’t ever have to be out of business or have an empty calendar, if you remember what worked great for you in the beginning! So make notes for yourself and go to them when you need to… you’ll be glad you did.

Overcome work at home obstacles

It is a certainty that you will encounter skeptics and criticism when you are a stay at home/work at home mom. Some people will not take your job seriously since they don’t understand your work at home career. The don’t see you GO to work, they don’t see your bank account and they don’t understand the concept of actually making a dream come true… from home. These people can’t help their skepticism, it’s just their nature. Most of the time, it’s not that they don’t want you to succeed, or don’t want you to enjoy being a work at home mom, it’s just that they are worried. Worried that you are involved in a ‘scam’ or a ‘pyramid scheme’, as some work from home ideas can be. Just take the time to explain your job, the benefits, awards and recognition you will receive when you do well. That will settle them down, and make them aware of your goals, and why you are doing what you are. (This may be a good time to go back to that journal and look at your WHY reasons again.)

Pursue success the way you define it and teach your children that they, too, can pursue their dreams. Different people define ‘success” in different ways. Some define success by the size of ones bank account, while some define success by the happiness in ones heart.

I am 100% successful… by my own accord. I set out to work from home, and I do. I spend both quality and quantity time with my girls, and make an income that would help our family be able to enjoy the things in life that we want to. I do that! This to me is success. So ask your self, “What is success, to me?” If you answer “lots of money” then work toward that. If you answered “time with family”, then remember that when scheduling parties and shows. What ever your answer is, then that is your goal and another key motivator in your career. Write it down! Write about it and refer to it often.

Top Ten things for work at home moms to remember when pursuing work at home jobs or a home based small business:

1. Do what you love! Enjoy your work! (I love personalized products, and I love to celebrate holidays and everyday occasions. I love to make my family and friends feel special and let them know I love them, so Celebrations by Lillian Vernon is a great business for me, and I can truly enjoy my work!)
   
2. You are teaching your children a wonderful work ethic, by example!
   
3. You have set goals and you are working toward them.
   
4. Be patient, there are very few ‘overnight successes’.
   
5. Be consistent.
   
6. Set a work schedule for yourself, and stick to it.
   
7. Remember your goals, focus on them often and make everything you do a step toward those goals.
   
8. Make customer care a priority. You want them to come back right?
   
9. Make special time for yourself. Working is not “Me-Time”!
   
10. Enjoy your career, and celebrate your success!!! Don’t be afraid to ‘toot your own horn’!
    

I'm a work at home mom because I wanted to spend this precious time with my two beautiful girls while still contributing to the family finances. I’ve accomplished that! Because of my determination to work at home, my girls are growing up having plenty of time with their mom. That’s a legacy that will endure forever.

I hope that you can accomplish your dreams are, too.

Now, that'd be a reason to celebrate!!

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Jessica Ketterer is the mom of two beautiful girls and Founding Independent Consultant Star Sales Consultant for Celebrations by Lillian Vernon, a network marketing home business. You can reach Jessica by calling (276) 398-1110, emailing her at: celebrations@psknet.com or by visiting her website at:
www.iluvworkingathome.com/jessicaK.htm