The reign of life is in your hands

It’s really not as hard as it may seem at first, honestly. Maybe because I was born without fear…lots of mothers tell me that they envy my position and wish that they could do whatever I was doing….blah blah blah….

And I ask them one question and one question only: “Sure you can, dear. But are you willing to go through what I went through or whatever I am going through right now? Don’t envy me, JOIN ME!”

Women are created with an ability to give birth to children and it’s not surprising to find women questioning themselves after they have given birth to their offspring. Do I really want to remain in the rat race? I am earning $10,000 a month now but I just want to be home with my kids. What now? Or maybe you’re wondering if you could actually sustain your lifestyle if you quit your current job and embark on a shifty career as a home business owner.

All of which are legitimate questions.

We should consider working from home or starting a small business from home very seriously if we want it to be successful. The longer you think about it, the better. But don’t take years to decide. Just let the thought linger in your mind, think about it, evaluate it, imagine what it would be like to be with your kids as and when you want. Imagine being able to take holidays away from work as and when you want. Imagine being there when your kids fist take their first step towards independence, college or just the first vertical step.

If you’re currently wondering if you should REMAIN in the rat race, doubt is infesting your mind and even if you discard the idea of working from home our of the window, you will still think about it, if not regret not going ahead with it, later on in your life. It’s never too soon to stand on your own two feet. There are tons of mothers out there who have started their own small businesses without knowing the very basics needed to start their own business – and they’re huge success stories today.

And here are some points I have to make about working from home and why you should take advantage of your own talents to start your own small business:-

1. Your kids

The first most important point is ‘family’. When I had my first child, every time I was at work, I felt this gnawing feeling inside, this guilt that ate me alive every single minute I was at work and away from him. Joshua felt nothing, but I felt everything and it wasn’t a good feeling. I would rather have my toenails ripped off in slow motion!

The pictures I placed on the computer, and in the computer didn’t help at all. I was just wishing I could hold him, smell his baby breath, stroke his lovely, thick hair throughout the whole 8 hours. And yet, when I had to work overtime, I resented my boss and if I rejected him and told him ‘no’, I would also feel guilty. It was guilt here and guilt there. And there wasn’t a point anymore, for me to continue being under employment.

Employment, to me, became a chain I wanted to break free from.

2. Freedom and Happiness

Everyone, and I mean everyone, defines freedom and happiness in their own way but most would associate freedom with happiness because being free to decide the route our lives with our kids will take is enjoyable. And it makes life’s journey more worthwhile.

And honestly, nothing beats being able to tell no one that I am going out for a break in the middle of work day.

3. Confidence

Once you have your own small business or begin freelancing, you will initially feel insecure, not knowing what to do and wondered if you were doing the right thing. That’s normal. And trust me, confidence is not built overnight. You don’t just get it when you wish for it. You need to work at it. Hard.

Before I became a homepreneur, I believe I was lacking in confidence, although many who knows me would describe me as bubbly and also perhaps optimistic to a fault. But when I first started out as a business owner, everything secure around me fell away. My walls that kept me secure and confident fell away….and I was all alone, not knowing what to do. Worst thing is, I don’t know with whom I was fighting with.

But through time and experience, your confidence grows and everything will be more sure in time.

4. People skills

Did I say I was bubbly? No? Oh yes, my friends say I am bubbly. But did I tell you what my enemies say? No? Well, they don’t think I deal well with stress and that I tend blow my top when things don’t go my way. I am one of those people who honk the horn at old people driving at snail speed along the road. Shame on me, huh?

So, I don’t have people skills – or I have a very tiny amount in my blood. Blame it on my dad.

But running my own business have made me more likeable. You won’t believe me unless you’re one of those people who know me from those younger years. I was the female John McEnroe of Asia!

5. Learning

Yes, learning is what I thrive on. I learnt how to knit, how to sew, how people mix chemicals to produce our fruit juices, I know how to name car parts (apart from the wheels, horn and steering wheel) when I see them, I know the kind of leather that manufacturers use to produce handbags. It’s WOW!

Having your own business is like that. Your world opens up and if you reach out, you can touch, learn and absorb everything available.

Having been in the freelance and small business world for half a decade and more, I would NEVER consider going back to employment! I love my life so much more now and the advantages of working from home are way too attractive for me to give it up now.

If I, a lawyer with no design basics skills can design brochures, newsletter and write copy for big HUGE clients the world over, you can start your own home business.

Nothing to it, really.