Raising Your Children, While Raising Your Income
If you’re like me, you left Corporate America, traded in your suits for tennis shoes and are staying home to be with your children. Maybe you’re just thinking about it at this point. You knew this was not an easy decision. It meant cutting your income in half, at least. However, when faced with the choice of working 40+ hours away from your children, you just could not envision that future.
You may have just planned to get by on one income until the children are all in school. Perhaps,
you even thought about picking up some part time evening work.
You’ll be happy to know there’s a much better alternative to all of the above. Network Marketing. Yes, you heard me correctly. Why go back to earning an hourly wage at all? You can run your own business, manage your hours and set your own income. You’ve managed other employees, departments, offices, etc. in Corporate America, you certainly have what it takes to manage yourself. Find a great business opportunity and outstanding team and follow their lead.
The tricky part comes from the same blessing – you are doing this from home. Here are some tips I’ve learned.
- Get your spouse on board. It would really be ideal if they joined you in the business. If that is not the case, at least have them on your side and create a work schedule. Trust me, they miss the other 50% of what used to be your income too.
- Stick to the schedule. Yes, this is a flexible business and that is one of the biggest benefits. However, you have to treat it like the business it is. How many times would you have allowed someone in your organization not to show up for work in a month?
- Create a workspace. Ideally it would be great to have a separate room for your office. Face it though, when you have four children, rooms are at a premium. Options: Unused formal living room, (how many dinner parties are you throwing these days with the little ones running around?) Basement, it may be cold or not that aesthetically pleasing but, if it’s like ours, your kids probably don’t want to go down there either. Just don’t make it your bedroom. When your business takes off, and it will, you don’t want to try to fall asleep starring at work you “could be doing”.
- Set specific Mommy/Daddy playtime with the children during the day. This is over and above taking care of them. That way, when you “moonlight” your business into daytime hours your children know they’ve had or will have quality time with you that day.
- Check into Mommy/Daddy helpers. These are neighborhood children, usually at least 10 years of age, who can come over afterschool a couple days a week to entertain your children while you work on your business. Your children should see this as a great treat of fun if you have the right helper.
- Always have fun. It’s a serious business, however it doesn’t mean you have to stress about it. You’re in control.
