Being a WAHM is Serious Business

I’ve been working closely with work at home moms for over 3 years. It’s great to connect with other mothers who share the same goal - to build a business that earns great money, so we can stay home with our kids.

I have seen many success stories. I’ve also seen many moms come and go. I’ve been fortunate to have made a lot of friends and built some very strategic business relationships. But I’ve also discovered one of the biggest causes of failure of mom-owned businesses.

I’m talking about a lack of seriousness.

I know I will offend some people by saying that, but if I can help a few moms who suffer from this problem, I’ll take the risk. Sometimes we have to hear things we don’t like to get past our obstacles to success. If you can reverse some of these destructive patterns in your business, you’ll certainly start reaping more rewards from your business. So let’s get to it…

Being a work at home mom is not an excuse for ANYTHING. Countless times over the past years, I have heard the phrase, “but I’m a work at home mom.” Whether it was an excuse for providing less than exemplary service or not being able to afford a business purchase, it is a phrase uttered over and over again.

If you want to earn pocket money or run your business as a hobby, that’s absolutely fine…but if you are looking to build a self-sufficient business that earns you a full-time income, you need to drop the martyr attitude and get serious about your business.

If your family commitments are interfering with your completing projects, keep an open line of communication with your clients and ALWAYS have a back-up plan. If your child is sick and you can’t complete your client’s order, be sure you have a system in place to have someone else complete it. The best way to increase your clientele is through word-of-mouth and repeat customers. Don’t burn any bridges because you have family obligations.

Family always comes first, but that doesn’t mean you can’t set up your business to be efficient even when you are busy with your family. Hire sub-contractors, have an assistant that works a couple hours per week or teach an apprentice about your business. Whatever you do, get that back-up system into place.

And let’s talk about purchasing things for your business. Whether it’s advertising, new software, new equipment or a course…it is your responsibility to raise the funds you need for your business. Certainly, there are business grants and loans, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about paralyzing yourself and your business when you think you can’t afford something that could increase your profits.

Wise investment results in a profit – whether it’s in the short term or long term. So, if you need some autoresponder software that will save you 3 hours per week and it costs you $20/month, I’d say that autoresponder is a good investment.

If you can buy an ebook for $50 that will teach you how to increase your monthly income by $100…why wouldn’t you buy this ebook? It will only make you more money.

Start looking at your expenditures as investments and you’ll make wise choices. Spending on your business shouldn’t cost you money…it should make you money. When you’re first starting your business, it’s hard to know where to spend your money and you make some mistakes (trust me – I made plenty!). Just make sure you connect with other successful business owners and find out what tools they use and how they spend their money. You can learn a lot by maintaining connections and sharing experiences with other business owners.

Of course, you are always welcome to drop by the free forum at Internet Based Moms

Or join us for more in-depth help at Mom Masterminds.

But please don’t limit your communication to other work at home moms. There are so many things to learn, so many experiences to share. Sometimes, moms get in the rut of only talking to other moms and only selling their products to work at home moms. There is a whole big entrepreneurial world out there. Expand your social network and expand your market. Your business will thank you for it.

Ultimately, your business success is in your hands. If you find yourself saying, “…but I’m a work at home mom,” stop it now. You are a business owner that happens to be a mom whose family is top priority. When you place restrictions on yourself, you restrict your success. Take your business seriously and you’ll start returning some serious profits.