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Considering Working from Home? Intestinal Fortitude Required!
by Barb Niehaus, The ParentPreneur Club

Anyone who has ever faced rush hour traffic, office politics, coworkers with poor hygiene or the shrill ringing of the alarm clock have shared the same dream... to work from home. Telecommuting conjures of mental images of setting your own work hours, the 20 second commute, designating your daily schedule and priorities instead of someone dictating orders. Donate that confining blue suit to charity, and settle in your comfy office chair with the radio station of your choice humming in the background.

Sound good? While it's true that these certainly are some of the "perks" gained when working from home, the realities are a stark contrast and do need to be addressed. Before embarking on your WAH quest, ask yourself the following questions, to determine if you possess the qualities and personality necessary to survive telecommuting.

Are you financially solid? Albeit, freelancing as an independent contractor or starting a home-based business, you're going to face slow and inconsistent periods of income. Customers and clients are not going to be arriving in throes at your cyber doorstep. Allot 6-9 months minimum to build trust and repeat business or projects. You need to prove that you are capable and trustworthy, just as in any outside profession - possibly even harder on the Web. Do you have a nest egg set aside for living expenses? Have you made arrangements for health insurance? If not, keep your day job! Moonlight with your Internet venture until you feel comfortable enough to resign your outside "meat and potatoes" position. Relinquishing that weekly paycheck is a big step.

Are you thick-skinned? If you're considering a home business, brace yourself for plenty of rejection. It's tough competing for clients against established Web businesses with solid reputations and the funds to promote, promote, promote. You will most likely be operating on a shoestring budget which greatly limits your advertising abilities. It's a much slower progress of spreading the word about your business when relying on the "poor man's advertising" which generally consists of ad swaps, search engine placements so low that even you can't find your listing, or relying on word of mouth. You'll get passed over many times in favor of the online "giant". Deal with it.

If you're freelancing, the stiff competition is enough to take some wind out of your sails, also. For those seeking secretarial, data entry or virtual assisting jobs, here's a startling revelation: I read the other day that for every data entry job you spot posted on the Internet, the employer receives 2,000 applications! Yep, that's right - 2,000! This should be a wake-up call for all of you WAH job hunters. Get that resume in top notch shape, polish up your rusty computer skills and, most importantly, be professional! Never inform the employer that you want to work at home to be near your family, to take care of a special needs child , etc. This sends up a huge red flag that you will have difficulty juggling work priorities with personal matters. Stress your strong technical skills - that's what they're focusing on.

Are you prepared for when the business or position does take off? Have you envisioned and provided for those 6-9 months down the road when you're establishing a strong client base? Do you have back-up assistance lined up, adequate office space, child care provisions? Think ahead and be ready for rapid growth.

If you have answered these questions and can honestly state that you "have what it takes" to work at home - good luck on your new, exciting WAH venture!

Barb Niehaus of Cincinnati, Ohio, created Moms @ Home Working, http://www.moms-home-work.com, to assist women who are looking for "the perfect balance between work and family" -- being a WAHM.

To subscribe to the free daily ezine of Moms @ Home Working, packed with at-home jobs, business tips, freebies and more, send a blank email: subscribe@moms-home-work.com

Copyright 2000 Barb Niehaus - All rights reserved.

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