You Already Have What it Takes to be a Mompreneur

You Already Have What it Takes to be a Mompreneur
By Tammy Gibson

Moms… turn your passions into profits.

* Do you have a dream or a passion you’ve put on hold, slowly simmering away on your back burner?

* Do you want the best of both worlds, be at home with the kids and run a profitable business contributing income to the household?

Not long ago I was in your shoes. I retired from teaching to commit to the most important full-time job of all, being a mom, but I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit in me waiting to explode out. The time was right and I launched an online business, enabling me to stay home with my two children.

When women become moms, their passions, creativity and talent don’t disappear; they just get placed on hold for a while. Soon, many moms find a desire to express themselves in other ways. They have this “There’s got to be more” feeling. Perhaps it is a hobby you enjoy, music, art sports, etc. Do you say “When the kids are in school then I’ll start…?” Finish the sentence and you have your online marketing idea.

The mom marketing opportunity is tremendous.

* Greater than 30 million moms are online

* There are 8 million women owned business generating more that 2 trillion dollars in sales per year

* Women start businesses 2 times faster than men with a longer survival rate

The time will never be better to start an online business. Good news… it’s not as hard as you think to join the growing sorority of work-at-home-moms (WAHM). So, what do you have to do?

After you have identified your passion you must research any competition and see if it is a viable business idea. Go to a few websites and get a feel for what each site offers. If there is NO competition, you may need to rethink your idea as there may not truly be a market for you.

1. Write a business plan. What kind of business is it? Give a detailed description of the business and its goals. Identify your target market. Describe your marketing strategy. Explain financial operations.


2. Organize. How much time will you invest each week? Schedule it. Write down daily, weekly and monthly business goals. Maintain your own office space.


3. Branding. Make your business name something you love and easy to spell. Come up with a tagline/logo. This is how the public recognizes you.


4. Website-Domain name must be easy to spell and remember. Make sure it is available. Your website design must be easy to navigate and easy on the eyes.


5. Marketing- This will make or break your business. Get the word out. Network. Advertise. Word of mouth. Buy a good marketing book.


6. Knowing it all – you don’t and you never will. Just do it anyway. Ask for help. Most mompreneurs are more than willing to help.

There are challenges, of course.

* As every mom knows it’s hard fitting 25 hours into a 24 hour day. The number one challenge is finding the time to wear 3 hats every day; mom, wife and mompreneur. Block out your time, make it work and you’ll be glad you did.


* Rest. Moms don’t need rest... at least that’s what the world seems to think. But you do. Don’t stay up late every night. Get your sleep; otherwise your family life will suffer.


* There is an initial financial impact, especially at start-up. Expenses add up fast. Make sure this business is a family decision and the costs are discussed upfront


* Time with your husband. Don’t forget him. His support is essential. Now and then surprise him with a secluded retreat with just the two of you, no kids, and no business, just romance.

Moms don’t have to sacrifice their family life to pursue their dreams anymore. This investment in time now will deliver tremendous benefits to you and your family down the road. Imagine the possibilities. In a few short weeks you can be on your way to the fulfilling life of being an online mompreneur.

Tammy Gibson

Owner, In Style Moms

http://www.instylemoms.com

Tammy Gibson is the proud owner of In Style Moms.com, an online boutique helping moms live life in style! She has been happily married since 1995 to Larry. Together they have 2 children, Nicholas and Montana (named after football great, Joe Montana). Tammy lives by the Latin saying “Aude Aliquid Dignum” (Dare Something Worthy). She says nothing is more worthy and daring than being home with her 2 children and being a successful Mompreneur.

Tammy enjoys helping moms maintain their sense of style after having kids. She is also available for business consulting, personal coaching and speaking engagements.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tammy_Gibson
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Homeschool Burnout

When a parent takes on the responsibility of educating his or her
child, homeschool burnout is one of the more common issues they
have to deal with. There are many reasons that lead to this
burnout: an illness, a new baby, added responsibility, change in
routine etc.

The symptoms of burnout vary from lack of patience to overeating
and crying without any apparent reasons. Surprisingly, a burnout
need not be such a bad thing. It is a wake-up call - an indicator
that things are not going well and that you need to reschedule.
Reversing or avoiding a burnout is possible if you get fair
warning.Find out how to overcome this at Easy Home Schooling

Successful after school programs

What marks a successful after school program? What are the things that you
should look for when enrolling your child into one such program? Other
than the obvious advantage of learning something new, successful programs
incorporate many things that help the development of the child.

Development of social skills is one of the more important objectives of a
good after school program. In a recent survey, parents indicated that
while they do want their children to respect others, they also wanted them
to imbibe skills like getting along with other children and getting used
to children outside the immediate circle of friends. Many children find it
difficult to make new friends and get along with people outside their
group.

Good after school programs place special emphasis on security and safety.
They keep children out of trouble and keep them safe. A good after school
program should be fun, especially when the children are young. If the
activity is fun, you will not have to worry about keeping him interested
or motivated. To be effective, programs should be organized and
structured. They must also suit the age of the child. The child must be
aware of the purpose of the program, and must be convinced that they are
attending the programs to accomplish something.

Re-energize Yourself Mom!

Being a mom is hard work.

To re-energize and refresh yourself, you need to stop and take some time out.

I found a great article on how you can do this.

The better you feel, the better 'mom' you are for your family!

Positive Things To Do For Yourself
By Rebecca White

Being a mom can take a toll on your body, your mind, and your soul. I know I am a mom to 3 wonderful but hyper boys ages 11, 9 and 3 and there are days where I really need to take a break from everything that goes on around me.

Sometimes though when you are blue its really hard to know what to do to bring yourself out of that "mom blues funk".

So I created a short list of things that I like to do when I just need those few minutes to rejuvenate myself and help me refocus on what is important to me and my life.

* Have a journal that you can write down things that are bothering you, get it off your chest so that it doesn’t interfere with anything else. Read it once a month to see if you were able to deal with the problems or feelings you had at that time.

* VIEW yourself as attractive, beautiful-and you'll project that impression to others.

* Work at developing a positive attitude. You'll feel happier, more in control, and you'll radiate high self-esteem.

* Start viewing problems as challenges that you can overcome and learn from.

* Associate with positive successful people. Optimism and success are contagious.

* Alleviate stress with a relaxation technique such as meditation or yoga. Or simply do a 60 second deep breathing exercise 5-6 times a day.

* Do aerobic exercise daily to relieve tension and boost energy.

* Limit alcohol and caffeine intake. Alcohol can leave you feeling sluggish: too much caffeine can trigger restlessness and irritability.

* Learn to set priorities, saying "no" to nonessential activities. Can you do this one? I have a hard time saying no.....

* Eat healthy, choosing foods from the four food groups: dairy, protein, fruit/vegetable, and grains. Eating healthy gives us the energy! Don’t skip breakfast even if you don’t have time you can grab a piece of toast and an apple.

* Avoid drastic weight loss programs. Instead, combine aerobic exercise with an eating plan that limits fat intake. Do not go under 30 grams of fat a day though even if trying to lose weight, we need some fat in our bodies or our bodies will think it is starving and save all those calories instead of letting you burn them off.

I don’t expect you to do this list all at once. That would be adding just one more stress to your life. Read over the list again and choose the ones that are most important to you now. Once you have accomplished what you chose to work on then move on to another one that is important to you.

Rebecca White is the host for Heal Yourself Talk Radio. HYTR was started to help teach others to learn how to heal their mind, body and soul. Be sure to sign up for the newsletter for weekly inspirations, podcast releases and more. Visit HYTR today at http://www.healyourselftalk.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_White
http://EzineArticles.com/?Positive-Things-To-Do-For-Yourself&id=26398

Mommy Tips

Mommy Tips:

"Activity Time:

Make time each day for at LEAST one pre-planned activity for the day. It works the best if your child picks out the activitity - that way it gives them something to look foward to.

(Make up a calendar and let your child help fill in that special something each day that you will DO WITH THEM)

Submitted By: Tasha"

Be a rich WAHM

You can have a wonderful life with your kids at home that will be the envy of all your friends and family.

Working from home is the wave of the future, with horrible gas prices, expensive daycare, work wardrobes, lunches out, etc. You end up spending almost half of your paycheck on these things that you DON'T need if you work from home!!!

You don't need to know anything about internet marketing to get started, you don't need to hire anyone, you don't need to pay a fortune, and you don't even need to read hundreds of useless pages to start making money online and live the life of your dreams. All it takes is a tiny effort and persistence to start making more money online than you have ever thought was possible.

CLICK HERE to find out more.

 

Free Toilet Training Guide

Free Toilet Training Guide: "Potty Training Tips

Potty training. Most parents don't look forward to this part of child rearing. Even though it certainly isn't fun, it doesn't have to be a nightmare.

Potty training usually starts around ages 2 or 3. Generally speaking, though each child is different, girls usually start sooner, and boys usually start later. Some signals that your child is ready to start potty training includes the following:

* Pulling on their clothes
* Signaling that their diaper is dirty
* Crossing legs or holding their crotch area

One potty training tip that can be of immense help is one that most parents don't even think about. Try letting your child accompany you in the bathroom and watch you use the toilet. This way, the child will see that 'even mommy does it'. This will go a long way towards alleviating their anxiety or fears. Below are a few more potty training tips that you can use when the time has come:

* Potty training tip #1 - Let the child help pick out their pull-ups, if you plan to use them

* Potty training tip #2- Use a potty training book for interactive learning

* Potty training tip #3 - Get your child a small potty especially for them to use in the bathroom; this makes potty training less intimidating

* Potty training tip #4 - Give your child proper instructions on using their special potty

* Potty training tip #5 - Use visual aids for motivation, like a potty training chart

Potty training charts are also of immense help. A potty training chart is a chart of progress for a child, and works as a type of reward system (positive reinforcement). Potty training charts are used by daycare providers and child psychologists. You can put your child's name on the potty training chart, and use a smiley face sticker for each time that your child is successful in going to the potty. Potty training charts come in different sizes, with lots of colors and different characters. Using a potty training chart helps you involve your child in their potty training in a way that is fun for them.

Another potty training tip that parents sometimes fail to use is getting the child familiar with the potty, even if that means sitting on it and doing nothing. Just being familiar with the act of sitting on the potty will help stop the battles that can sometimes occur during potty training.

Here is the ultimate potty training tip: Don't yell or punish your child if they have an accident. This will only lead to regression with whatever progress you've made up until that point. If the child feels pressure, it will be harder for them to use the potty when they are supposed to. Conversely, if you get overly excited when they do go, they may also regress, feeling pressure to please mom or dad.

Unfortunately, you will probably be potty training your child when they are in the 'terrible twos', that is, when they are most inclined to challenge your authority as a parent. It is very important not to give in to this kind of behavior and let it escalate into a battle. If this happens, the process of potty training will be very slow. So keep your cool work with your child and make sure that your child is familiar with the potty before you begin.""