Celebrating YOU!
Tell me a little bit about you!
There isn't a lot to say about myself, I'm pretty boring ;-) I'm a single mom to one, a 14 year old boy. We live in Northern Michigan surrounded by some of the most gorgeous bodies of water. When I'm not working, I'm hanging out with my son, friends/family, taking pictures, or one of many other activities I enjoy doing. That's me in a nutshell.
What did you do BEFORE you became a WAHM?
I had several different jobs through the years but right before I came home to work, I was an Optomoterist Assistant at a WalMart Vision Center.
What is the best part of working from home?
For me, the best part is the flexibility it gives me to take time off when I need to (or when I want to!). Another great thing is that working from home gives me the ability to be in control of my income and continue to increase it.
What do you like the least?
My least favorite thing about working from home is the loneliness. Sure I have great friends online & can connect with them everyday via the internet, but it's just not the same as having in person interaction.
What would you tell someone who wants to work at home, but doesn’t think they could?
Do lots of research to learn more about working from home because it's not for everyone. I would tell them to make a list of things they like doing, their passions, things they're interested in & then see if there's a way they could turn any of that into something they could do from home. It's not a decision that should be taken lightly, making the decision to work at home needs to be clearly thought out and you need to have a plan in place.
Do you see yourself still WAH in 5 years from now?
Absolutely! I love what I do and would never go back to having a J-O-B!
What advice do you offer new WAH moms?
Find a mentor - someone that is successful at what you want to do & follow what they do. Find a mastermind group. I've been a part of Solo Masterminds (formerly known as Mom Masterminds) ever since I started working from home & I can't even begin to explain how valuable a resource this
has been.
Do you think more companies should offer the opportunity to work from home?
I think more companies should offer the opportunity to work from home because it's a win/win situation. The company would save money in the long run. And it's been suggested that when a company gives people the opportunity to work from home, that person is more productive than if they were sitting in the office working.
What myths do you want to debunk about being
a WAHM?
That it's easy & you can make lots of money. It's not easy - it takes a lot of dedication, perservance, hard work, patience - & you can't make lots of money overnight like some people suggest you can. If it sounds too good to be true, it
probably is!
What is the toughest part of being a work from home mom?
One of the toughest things for me has been not getting distracted by home things. For example, if I go into the kitchen to get a glass of water or something, & see dishes in the sink I have to remind myself I'm working & the dishes will have to wait until later when my work is done for the day. Or laundry...or whatever else needs to be taken care of around the house.
Is it hard for you to keep your work & home
life separate?
Yes, it's hard to separate work life and home life sometimes. Especially because my son doesn't live with me full time and I'm single. That leaves a lot of 'free' time for me without obligations so I find myself thinking I might as well work.
What do people say when you tell them you work
at home?
Most people are intrigued when I tell them I work at home & they want to know more. But then once I start talking about being a Virtual Assistant, they kind of get lost. It's easier to just say I'm a freelance writer (I do a lot of writing as a VA) because most people know what that is.
Anything else you would like to add?
It's really rewarding to be able to work from home & so worth it. But people need to know that it's also a lot of hard work too! You have to be organized, disciplined, work with integrity and so much more.
Work at home moms taking super mom to the next level
Tishia Lee
In 2006 Tishis Lee was looking for something more than a job that paid very little & left her feeling unappreciated & uninspired... FW magazine Editor Stacee Schmidt-Cottrell sat down w/this veteran WAHM to learn more about how the world of Virtual Assistants saved her & how Tishia saves time was founded.
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Clebrating You! Continued on Page 27