Celebrating YOU!
Why did you decide to become a WAHM?
I decided to become a WAHM after the demands of family life, my health and day care expenses just got out of control.
What did you do BEFORE you became a WAHM?
My true passion has always been my career in beauty industry as a hair stylist. I worked in a salon for 13 years & owned my own salon for 3 those..
What is the best part of working from home?
The best part of being a WAHM is having the ability to schedule work around my family and not my family around work. I never thought I could find something else I would love as much as I loved being a stylist until I gained my first team member with Thirty-One. Mentoring, coaching and teaching others how to achieve their dreams so rewarding. I love waking up every day knowing I am making a difference by sharing this incredible work at home opportunity.
What do you like the least?
I would have to say the discipline. I am & always have been a go with the flow kinda girl. I never had schedules in place before. It takes a lot of planning time to make it all work.
What is something I wish I knew before starting as a WAHM?
I wish I had known about the wonderful friendships & amazing people that I would developing relationships with a while I’d be in business for myself but I wouldn’t be in business by myself. It amazes me every day how women are so free to help other women succeed.
Do you see yourself still WAH in 5 years from now?
Absolutely, once you get your systems in place you realize that this is truly the one way we can have it all! The schedule flexibility & not having to get approval to take off is the sole reason I will be a WAHM mom in 5 years from now and I never want to give that up.
What advice do you offer new WAH moms?
Keep work time & family time separate. Be present in everything you do. That quality trumps quantity every time. I have hat that I wear while I’m working my business. My children know that if they see the hat on, then they either have to go ask dad or the sitter.
Do you think more companies should offer the opportunity to work from home?
Yes, I believe employers would find, in the case of their working mom employees, that their productivity and loyalty would be extremely high. Plus it would save gas and be better for the environment.
What myths do you want to debunk about being
a WAHM?
One myth is that you don’t need child care. Your job & your children need undivided attention. You’ll reach your goals faster if you can work without interruptions. When you do this, you will be completely present in the moment when you are with your kids.
What is your secret to not letting your work life consume your family time?
The secret lies in delegating & not being afraid to ask for help. One can have it all, but we don’t necessarily have to do it all ourselves. A way to determine what you can delegate is to figure out how much you are currently getting paid by the hour. Then you’ll know what your time is worth. Any activities that you can pay someone else to do for less than that amount are those to delegate. When you do this you focus your time on income producing activities. If you find yourself overwhelmed & like you have hit a plateau in your business or just can’t put one more thing on your plate. This is the answer. Worried on how you would pay for the extra help? At first even if it’s only a few hours a week you will see how it can greatly benefit you by freeing up time so you can focus on the important tasks. When you start to see your income reflect the change you can delegate even more. I know it can be scary especially when we are talking about money taking such a leap of faith but once you make the decision to run your business like a business you will see such a shift happen.
What do people say when you tell them you work at home?
They always respond with “Wow I wish I could do that!” I make sure to tell them women just like you can stay at their full time jobs & start their own business part time at first. The beauty of this business model is that they are in the driver’s seat the entire time. They can work as much or as little as they want. I find once women start connecting with other WAHMs they start to open their eyes and recognize the true income earning potential.
Anything else you would like to add?
Right now is an amazing time to start your own WAH business. Women now more than ever before are looking for alternate sources of income. The unstable economy & insecurity in your traditional job market is the driving factor. Did you know that 550 women a day are starting their own businesses at a rate of 2 to 1 over men? It is our time ladies GO FOR IT!
Work at home moms taking super mom to the next level
Gina Fustich
Two years ago, the last thing stylist Gina Fustich thought she would be doing was working from home & loving it. Then doctors discovered she had lupus & her whole world changed. Yet, this WAHM will tell you it was Thrty-one gifts that turned her world around.
31
Clebrating You! Continued on Page 32