It’s Not Personal, It’s Work
By Christina Lemmey | June 29, 2008
I have always known that I would find myself in a service-based business. That’s just what I enjoy doing, helping people complete their projects and increasing their business.
However, being a part of a team or partnership means that you still need to take direction and criticism from your client. Afterall, this is THEIR business, THEIR livelihood, THEIR rules.
Nobody deserves to be beat up and sometimes demanding clients need to be let go if the relationship is not mutually beneficial. But as a service provider you need to be strong and be able to take constructive criticism. By listening to your clients’ requests, your job will get easier and eventually they won’t have to tell you the same wishes over and over again.
Sometimes it’s difficult to hear the criticism and not take it personally. Afterall, many service providers take great pride in their work and want to be known as “the best.” I for one despise when I make a mistake but it’s important to thicken your skin and realize that the criticism is about WORK, a project, not about you as a person.
And in the end these criticisms will only make you better at your job so you can provide better service to future clients.
Topics: Virtual Assistance | 1 Comment »
The Danger of Comparing Your Biz to Others’
By Nan Gomez | June 17, 2008
Personally speaking it’s really easy to begin comparing my level of success to that of another virtual assistant who opened her doors the same time I did. This is a very damaging thing to do!
Everything happens and everyone grows in different time frames. We each have our own personal challenges to overcome, our own individual goals and standards that we aim for at different times in our business venture. It’s important to remember that. I have to remind myself of that. Just because someone else seems to be doing better or getting more clients doesn’t mean I’m not doing a great job with the clients I do have.
Sometimes it’s personality. Someone shy has a harder time initiating a job offer where as someone who is outgoing will have no problem doing that at all. Just like our children, we all grow at different stages and times in our lives and so do our business so, just as we wouldn’t compare our children to other children don’t do it to your business either.
As long and you and I do our best and give our businesses our all that is all we can do and you need to remember that and so do I. 
Topics: Just General | 4 Comments »
Taking Breaks Can Help Your Productivity
By Christina Lemmey | May 22, 2008
When you’re a WAHM, it’s super easy to fall into a habit of sitting at the computer for countless hours doing work, networking, etc. Needless to say, I prefer doing my online work to doing housework so I’ve gotten a bit disorganized these last few weeks.
But yesterday I had piles of laundry to catch up on and I was having a bit of writer’s block, so I just took a break to fold some laundry. By the time I was done folding, maybe 10 minutes later, I had my client’s promo written in my head; the same promo that had me stumped just a short time earlier. It truly amazed me how it just worked itself out after I had stopped staring at the computer screen.
From now on I’m forcing myself to take breaks during my work day, especially if I’m having difficulty figuring out a problem. Stepping away is sometimes all it takes to clear your head and the solution will come to you.
Topics: WAHM Life | 6 Comments »
Do You use Set Working Hours?
By Aurelia Williams | May 20, 2008
Many WAHMs feel that it is really important to establish set working hours. Usually they set this hours to ensure that their client work as well as their work around the home gets done.
When it comes to my clients, I do have set working hours. It makes it so much easier to stay on top of my online and offline life.
Do you have set working hours? If so, how is it working for you? If you don’t have set working hours, do you think it would help?
Topics: Work at Home Life | 4 Comments »
WAH with small children
By Aurelia Williams | May 17, 2008
When I started my journey of working from home to earn extra income my youngest was just 4 weeks old. I decided to open a licensed day care then I landed an online job working at iVillage.
My children have been brought up in an environment where I’ve been working from home part time and just today I had a nice coaching session where my client was trying to gather help in creating a schedule for herself to work from home as she has her toddler underfoot.
I know this is a topic that many moms could value from so I wanted to share with you some of the tips that I spoke about with my client. If you have children in the home as you are working, you already know that some days it can be nearly impossible to get work done.
Here are just a few tips for you WAHM’s out there that can use some extra help with working at home with toddlers
- Develop a routine that you use for your children’s meal times, nap times, and play times. The key is to around and/or with your child’s schedule. When developing your routine be sure that on that routine is quiet time for you and your child to spent together where you are not working.
- Don’t be afraid to let your little on sit in your lap or sit beside you while you are working. I found that by doing this at times it can really help them feel as if they are a part of your daily life. Why not set up a small work station for your child next to your work station.
- Use that Timer - Set your time for a period of time and explain to your child that you need to work quietly and alone until the timer ‘dings’. This will help your child get used to your schedule, allow them to play alone and it will also allow you to get some work done.
Whatever your schedule is, I think that its very important to work around the natural flow of your child and the natural flow of your home.
Best of Luck!! I’d love to hear of some things that you’ve tried that worked for you.
Topics: WAHM Life | 3 Comments »
Online Friends
By Nan Gomez | May 13, 2008
Wow, I just got back online after being offline (moving) for a week and boy it sure seemed longer than a week. I guess I never really realized that almost all if not all my friends are online friends and don’t live anywhere to close to me.
I guess as a stay at home mom I didn’t realize how much I’ve come to rely on my online buddies. It gets a little lonley being at home all day without the commeradere of other workmates like I used to have when I worked away from home. Not that I’d change a thing. I love being home with my daughter but it’s nice to have an adult to share some converstaions with even if it’s by typing and not speech. :-) Funny you never realize how much you rely on something till you don’t have it anymore.
Not only did I miss my online buddies but I actually missed work. I couldn’t wait to get back online and get back to business. So, I’m back and ready to go.
Topics: Work at Home Life | 4 Comments »
Do You Multitask Well?
By Christina Lemmey | April 29, 2008
I’m amazed by the WAHMs who can work with the tv or music on while handling three or more projects at the same time. Sounds wonderfully productive and entertaining but I would be SO distracted. Without a doubt I would get lost while singing along to the music or stopping for longer than a minute to catch up on the plotline of some show.
Sometimes I feel like the kid who can’t pat her head and rub her tummy at the same time! I can’t even listen to a podcast and read email at the same time without losing some details! While I may have several deadlines in one day, I need to complete one at a time before moving on.
How well do you multitask?
Topics: Work at Home Life | 1 Comment »
Another thought on time management. . .
By Donna | April 28, 2008
It seems like time management is a general theme. Time management is a key factor to being a work-at-home mom. Well, to tell the truth, it’s a key factor to just being a mom these days. Whether you work or not, it seems like moms today juggle more and more than moms twenty or thirty years ago. Having the option – and the growing trend – to work at home can add more to that juggling act. Working from home, whether through your own business or a telecommuting position, does have its pros and cons. How you manage your time can sometimes decide how the scales tip – more pro or more con – to work at home.
It seems like every four months or so, I need to sit back and re-evaluate my own time management skills. Am I spending too much time juggling everything, but really not accomplishing anything at all? Sometimes the best course of action and the time management tip I can offer is to “schedule” your day. I know, I know. Who wants to live by a strict schedule? But I’m not talking about a strict schedule necessarily – though if you need it – why not? I’m talking about giving yourself “business hours”. Set aside the times in the day that you know you’ll need to accomplish certain tasks. I know this is easier said than done. I did mention that every few months I re-evaluate my own situation. But if you start out the day, or even the week, knowing firstly, what you need to accomplish, and secondly, how much time you have to work with, you might find that you’re not so overwhelmed. Here’s a for instance. I know for one particular client that I work all day Tuesdays, and then Thursdays and Fridays until about lunch time. Those times are carved out for that client. So I know that on Mondays and Wednesdays my schedule is much more open to work on another client’s project (usually while my son is in school), work on my blog writing, do household chores (I try to spread them out over the course of the week so that my weekends are not spent house cleaning), and spend time with the kids. And I actually write these things in my calendar – my old fashioned, non-electronic, non-computer, notebook sized calendar. This way I’m not compelled to turn the computer on to check on tasks, and then get sidetracked with a multitude of other “Oh, I’ll just look up this” or “Oh, let me catch up on so and so’s blog”.
This leads me to some other questions that you can ponder and share your thoughts on. Firstly what is your best time management tip? And secondly, do you think mom’s today have it easier or harder than mom’s twenty or thirty years ago?
Topics: Just General, WAHM Life | 3 Comments »
Ask For And Go For What You Want
By Aurelia Williams | April 28, 2008
Do you think that brand new laptop that you saw at Circuit city will just magically appear in your home, or what about those projects that you know you need to start, do you think they will start themselves? Hey, what about that quiet time that you really need? Do you think your children will magically disappear for a few hours after drawing you a nice hot bubble bath? Heck No!
So, think to yourself. What is on your wish list? Is it starting your own business, have a monthly date night with your significant other, have some quality time to yourself? Also ask yourself, Have I kept this wish list to myself? Please tell me that you are not waiting for your friends, loved ones, coworker or those you network with to read your mind and then hand deliver what you are secretly wishing for.
At times we may keep our mouths closed and not ask for what we want out of fear of rejection or fear of seeming pushy or needy. For most women, just the thought of asking other for help or for a favor is enough to keep their mouths shut and their dreams far a way!
In order to ask for and go after what you want, it is important to get clear about what you want and be able to describe it in detail.. Once you know what you want, be totally willing to ask for it whenever you get the chance. This holds true in your business and personal relationships.
It is important to learn that is okay for someone to say “No”. It is also important to learn that it is ok for any given situation to not turn out the way you hoped it to go. Failure and/or rejections do not have to be the final word, actually it can be the opening for further negotiation. Take time to reflect on what happened. Were you specific about what you wanted? Did you approach the correct person, did you communicate yourself clearly? And most importantly, ‘How can your refine your request for the next time you ask it?
Next, make list of the people who come to mind when you think of what you want. For instance, if you want to start your own Virtual Assistance business, why not search online for forums or websites that specialize in that area. If you find such a forum, acquaint yourself with the members and simply introduce yourself and ask for advice, guidance and help. The only way people can help you is if you let them know that you need help.
You will be amazed at how many people truly enjoy lending a hand to others, and just think, the more you grown and learn, the more hands you can to lend a helping hand to others as well.
Topics: Just General, WAHM Life | 2 Comments »
End of School Countdown Begins!
By Christina Lemmey | April 25, 2008
Doesn’t it seem outrageous that the end of school is just 9 weeks away?? Even less than that for those of you who end school in May! So it’s not too soon to figure out just how will you continue to be productive while the kids are home for the summer?
My youngest already gives me the guilt trip of being on the computer “all morning” if I dare to check emails or Twitter before she goes to school (the curse of afternoon kindergarten!) and then gives me the big lip at bedtime saying, “But I hardly got to spend any time with you.”
I can’t imagine what summertime will be like if this is already the scene at our house. I need to find a happy medium because I don’t want to enroll them in 11 weeks of camp/daycare but I can’t leave them to their own “entertainment” because inevitably there will be yelling.
Maybe I’ll have them custom make a sign for the office door with my office hours on there so they can (hopefully) understand when I cannot be disturbed. Of course, planning office hours in between swimming lessons, playdates, and day camp sessions may not be easy!
Does anybody else have a plan in place for the summer?
Topics: Just General, WAHM Life | 3 Comments »