Welcome to the new and refreshed Work It, Mom!. If you're an existing member you'll notice that some things have changed but we hope it's all for the better.
As with all new things, we're bound to run into some issues but trust that we're working on them! We'd love to hear your feedback.
Group Discussions
How long have you owned your own business?
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Statistics say that most "work at home" businesses last only a couple of years. I've owned my own pattern making / sewing business for nearly 30 years, and love it as much as when I started it. I do put in a lot of hours and wonder if everybody else puts in the hours, or somehow can "end each day" at a certain time, take off weekends, etc.Flag as inappropriate Posted by Sarah Doyle on 31st May 2008
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Congratulations on your success, Sarah! That is fantastic that you have enjoyed your work for so long!
I have owned my business for just over a year. I'm putting in quite a few hours but I love the work and I have the flexibility in my schedule that is so important to me. I take days off here and there but I don't have set days off. I'm always available to take my kids where they need to be and have dinner at home. I usually end up splitting up my day - working most of the day while the girls are at school and a couple of hours after they go to bed. I don't think I could work in an office again!Flag as inappropriate Posted by April Mims, Career Coach on 31st May 2008 -
I agree with you 100% about not being able to work in an office again! My best working time is when I get up at 4:30 in the mornings. We keep our 2 1/2 year old quadruplet grandbabies and their 3 1/2 year old "big brother" a couple times a week, so I also use their afternoon nap time (quiet time) to get a little more work done. I LOVE the flexibility of the "work at home" schedule!Flag as inappropriate Posted by Sarah Doyle on 31st May 2008
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I launched an online baby boutique that caters to mothers unwilling to lose their sense of style during their child rearing years. I am currently hosting a contest on the site to generate more exposure. Any other ideas how I can get my name out there, so I last longer than the usual 2 years?
http://www.mydesignerbaby.com official site
http://www.mydesignerbaby.wordpress.com blog contestFlag as inappropriate Posted by Heather on 31st May 2008 -
I started my home business a year ago in June. Most only last a few months because the owners loose focus and get discouraged when they don't see the results they hoped. The best advice I can give is to have realistic expectations and remember that real world businesses (outside the home) generate losses for several of those beginning years before they generate profits.
Good luck!
Lauren
Home Based OpportunityFlag as inappropriate Posted by lauren126 on 31st May 2008 -
I agree with lauren126 -- if the dollars don't start coming in immediately, people tend to lose focus, or figure they've worked "so hard for 3 months" that they should be rich by now. Our http://PatternsThatFitYou.com has been online since 2001, and even though I'd been teaching pattern making and offering pattern making books / notions via mail order for many years before that, it still took time and concentrated effort to get the site into a profitable site. And, as with Heather, I too, started my own blog the end of last year - http://SarahJDoyle.com and have already had one "spring sewing tips" contest. Keep us informed on the outcome of your blog contest, Heather.Flag as inappropriate Posted by Sarah Doyle on 1st June 2008
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Heather - I tried to make comments on two of your items on your blog, but the comments either have not come through, or on one of them, when I clicked the "submit" button it took me to an error page. Hmmmmm, you do have some neat things there.Flag as inappropriate Posted by Sarah Doyle on 1st June 2008
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Sarah,
For some reason your comments went into the spam section of the blog and moved them into the comment section. You have been entered into the contest. Hopefully you will win. Our prducts really are beautiful! Thanks for entering! If you have a blog you can post our site their as well and receive another entry.Flag as inappropriate Posted by Heather on 1st June 2008 -
Thanks for all the advice. It is great to have this type of encouragement.Flag as inappropriate Posted by Heather on 1st June 2008
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I've owned my own business since 2001, but it was always just a "side" interest until now. I've finally given my business the attention it deserves (for the last year, really, but especially in 2008).
I'm so happy to say that I've just sent in my resignation at work today, and am 2 weeks from being a full time business owner (I am a web designer through my company iDesign Studios - http://www.idesignstudios.com).Flag as inappropriate Posted by Selene M. Bowlby on 3rd June 2008
