Designing Websites and Developing Online Businesses
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Self-Starters Weekly Tips
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Five years ago I was married and raising a blended family of four children. I worked outside the home full time for little over minimum wage, and the six of us lived in an 800 sq ft house with two tiny bedrooms. I am now a single mother, working from home and homeschooling my children. I remember it like it was yesterday... the frustration of running back and forth to work all week, dropping off and picking up children, coming home tired only to cook and clean for the family. The house was rented, the car was always breaking down, and there never seemed to be enough money to pay all of the bills. I worked for a small company as a System Administrator and helped part time with the accounting after hours; my husband was an Electronics Technician for a locally owned TV Repair Shop. He was the best at what he did - I was always amazed at the fact that there didnt seem to be anything he couldn't fix! It started as a basic idea... frustrated with our lifestyle, and feeling like we were both worth more than we were getting paid, I thought to myself, "If I can work in an office, and he can fix electronics... why not start our OWN repair shop?!" It wasn't as simple as starting a business on the side... we would have to move two counties away in order to open a shop, as we both had non-compete contracts against us in our county and every surrounding county. We sold everything we had to make that move... clothes, furniture, dishes, home interior -
We moved into an older home on the outskirts of a big city (where we didnt know anyone, and were not known) that had a nice little shop out to the side of it. From there, we ate peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, did without new shoes and pizza on Friday nights for a while, and poured everything we had into starting our own business from home. Initially, we had no telephone, so I sent my husband out to meet the local business owners in person. He approached computer stores to offer monitor repair, TV shops to offer overflow service, etc. Within six months we had met our minimum financial goals, the phone was ringing off the wall, and half of the house was turned into offices and tech areas as the business grew out of the small shop outside. Our Yellow Page ad was published as well, and things seemed to be moving in a good direction. I began working on a second business right away. Taking care of the children, the home, and the business kept me busy... but I had found an interest in computer training and web design. I spent all of my spare time (I know, I know - I sacrificed sleep and a few other things) learning what I could through the internet. Being happy and motivated again was a real blessing! It didnt even feel like work anymore -
Within a year we moved the shop into a commercial building and combined the two businesses. Along with the repair shop, we were also offering computer training classes, web services and network gaming. It was then that I put a good portion of my energy into Web Service Network - what eventually became my passion and my full time career. A year later, I found myself a single mother all over again. I gave my husband the repair shop in the divorce, and set out to make Web Service Network my full-time career. Stricken with the trauma of divorce and struggling to take care of my two children, I worked out of my apartment for the first six months. It was a constant struggle, just like opening the shop had been, but I knew it would be worth it. I eventually opened an office uptown, but decided that was not what I wanted at all... It was like a JOB with a schedule, and my youngest in preschool 5 days a week. I closed it and came home, and am now homeschooling the children as well.
I wonder how things would have turned out if I hadnt made that decision five years ago... The benefits to my children, and to myself as a woman, have been incredible. For me, being happy came along with confidence, pride, independence and the feeling of self-worth that I gained through this phase of my life. I am happier than I have ever been - waking up each day to a job that
Whatever your dream is... I encourage you to make it a reality. If I can do it... then anyone can! My business services were founded on working with new home-based businesses - and it still remains my passion: To share what I have learned with others who want to make their work-at-home dreams come true. Be sure to check out the Archives of Self-Starters Weekly Tips for my personal favorites that will help you get started, and feel free to contact me personally by email at Lynn@WebServiceNetwork.com if I can help you in any way.
Be sure to check out MomsCareer.com for At-Home Job Listings & Resources as well! | ||||||||
Working from home has been a dream come true!
