Your Path and My Path to Working from Home Are Not Necessarily the Same...

Maybe your decision to work from home was not a deliberate one at first.  It might have been created out of some necessity – as a result of a major event in your life outside of your control which prevented you from continuing on in your current employment situation.  Perhaps your decision to work from home came about because you now place a greater value on your responsibilities and privileges as a mother, and consider them more important than working a full-time job.  Rearing children and taking care of the home now rank top priority in your life, and the joys of motherhood are being considerably challenged and overshadowed by an ungrateful boss and a daily 3-hour commute.

Maybe you have recently become the primary caregiver for an elderly parent.  The years have crept up on you, and suddenly a mother or father who cared for all those years when you were in need, has begun to decline physically. You're noticing that they could use a little assistance at home (truthfully, a lot of assistance, but you know they'd never admit to it).  You feel that now it’s your time to give back, to show them your love, gratitude and support at a time in their lives when they could really use it.  

Have you been recently laid off due to the economy, or were you fired because the circumstances in your life have not allowed you to keep up with the demands of your position, and your boss has been completely unsympathetic to your needs?  After all, you're not really to blame.  Life happens, and life we know, is not always fair.  So, now you've fallen into the ranks of the unemployed… I know the feeling, I've been there too.  It’s a terrible place and a good place all at the same time.  It's a place where we often find our true connection to work and purpose for life. 

Each of us travels down our own path with similar, but sometimes completely different circumstances and reasons for wanting -- for needing to work remotely or virtually.  Regardless of what initially led you to seek flexible, work at home opportunities,  you are now purposeful in your efforts to find or create a work from home position that best matches your unique skills, gifts and talents, and of course manages to cover your expenses.  As unclear and impractical as it my seem right now, a virtual office designed by and for you is possible.  But, it does take effort. What good thing in life comes easily, after all?

Believe me, I know that you need to get a job working from home. And that the need may be pressing for you and your family.  But, it's just as important to know where your strengths lie and what your passions for work are so that it can be the right job for you.  So, that you can make it work for you and have genuine success at it!  

I want to share with you two books which helped me to re-focus and seemed to clarify many of my goals related my career and life in general. No More Dreaded Mondays: Ignite Your Passion - and Other Revolutionary Ways to Discover Your True Calling at Work and 48 Days to the Work You Love: Preparing for the New Normal are two potentially life-changing books that will make you re-think your current work situation and set you on a path to discovering new and greater opportunities in a way that you might never have imagined.  After reading them, you may find yourself gaining the confidence to start your own business from home with new found resources to help you along the way.  You will also find resources to and great testimonies of people that will help empower you and help you gain the mental fortitude you need to pursue flexible employment or independent contractor opportunities from home, if self-employment is not the right path for you.

Happy Reading!

Until we meet again... Stay well and be blessed!

Independence Day is Here...

Tomorrow, we will celebrate the Fourth of July, marking our nation’s 235^th year of independence from British rule.   “God Bless America, Land that I Love….”

Wouldn’t it equally as nice to declare your independence from the monotony of your 9 to 5, from the office politics and the endless banter around the water-cooler?  Many of us have done this, and we know that it’s not necessarily easy to make this transition, especially when your livelihood and your family’s financial security depends on a guaranteed, weekly paycheck.  

There are a couple of things you could do immediately if your mind is bent towards making the move to  work from home right away, or if you have a pressing situation that requires you to spend significant time away from the office.  You could ask your boss if he/she would be willing to accommodate your needs by letting you create some flexibility in your schedule, for example, working from home a few days out of the week.  Or, you could go out on a limb and decide to pursue a freelancing, telecommuting job from home temporarily until something more permanent evolves.  

There are many things to consider, however before deciding to make the move.  If you rely upon employer-paid health insurance, what happens if you quit your job?  How will you pay for the premiums if the freelance work doesn’t pan out quite like you expected?  How will you support yourself and your family financially?  

On the other hand if you don’t quit, you might end up missing many more of your kids’ activities -- many more of their soccer games and dance recitals….Or, your health might continue to suffer….You can fill in the blanks with whatever applies to our situation here.  I’m simply trying to get you to stop and think for a moment about your options and the consequences that leaving or not leaving your current position can potentially have.

The Fourth of July is a great time to spend with family and friends, to relax in the fresh air and sunshine, and to share great food, fun and fellowship.  It can also be a great time for thanksgiving and reflection.  A time to thank God for His sovereignty and protection over our nation, as well as a time to reflect over America’s history.  To consider the values and principles that have helped to shape our country since its birth, to get an honest perspective on where we are right now as a nation, and what the future might hold for us.  

Most often, the decision to work from home is not an easy one.  It requires significant thought and reflection on our part and much prayer.  It causes us to reflect over our own values and priorities so that we can determine the path to working from home that is best for us and for our individual situations.  If you can manage to carve out some quiet time during the day, you might want to consider some of the things I have just shared with you as you embark on your journey to work from home. 

Happy Independence Day…And, God Bless America!

About this Blog...

This blog is devoted to all of us who are seeking our niche in a world full of opportunity and hoping to secure that ideal virtual position or home-based business.  It is for anyone who wants to end the frustration of the daily 9 to 5 grind – for the one who is physically and mentally drained, worn-out by the long grueling commute, and crying out desperately wanting to achieve even some semblance of work-life balance. 

It’s also for the rest of us, the gainfully employed (or those seeking to be), who by virtue of necessity, either because of a chronic illness, or because they are caring for children or loved ones, have no other alternative other than to seek work from home.

So, whether you are a stay-at-home mom (or stay-at-home dad), a person with a chronic illness or disability, or simply someone who desires to work from the comfort of home, then this site is for you.  Maybe you are a student in need of flexible work, a retiree with too small of a nest egg to live comfortably, or a caregiver for a sick loved one -- whatever your unique situation is -- I invite you to stop by and look around.  We will not discriminate! 

Regardless of what your personal needs or desires are for working from home, I hope this site will help you achieve them.  As someone who started working part-time from home only a few years ago, I have experienced the ups and downs of trying to find fulfilling, sustainable and meaningful employment.  And, just like many of you I, too, have goals, dreams and a mental picture of what I would like my ideal work arrangement to be.  Hopefully, I can pass along some of what I have learned along the way.  For those of us who are still a work in progress, my intent is to shed some light on how we can get there.

Prayerfully, we will make it there together or at least meet one another along the journey…

What a blessing that will be!