Work
At Home ... Best of Two Worlds
by Catherine Williams
I am a mother of two young children. For years I had worked
at home, cooking, cleaning, doing the wifely duties that are all expected of us as mothers
and wives. Careers were for men, or single woman, at least that was what I honestly
believed. I really didn't think that anyone could have both, especially since child care
cost more than I had to give. And even if I had a job, paying the sitter would deduct
almost all my weekly wages. No, it was best that I stay home with the kids.
One day, we decided to purchase a computer. My husband was
a graphic artist for nearly two years, but I had never even typed a single word, let alone
knew the in's and out's to this whole 'cyber' world. Within a few weeks I knew the basic
navigation of the Internet, had learned how to 'find' what I was looking for most of the
time and when I couldn't there was always some site of interest I would come across.
What I found amazed me. Here, in this world of virtual
people, REAL business was going on. You could bank online, you could purchase anything
under the sun, and heck you could even order flowers, and have them shipped to anyone in
the world. It literally blew my mind. Little by little I began speaking in forums,
discussing this amazing 'new' discovery with other woman, some who were working from home
on their computers. Now, I will be totally honest with you, when I first heard the world
'telecommuting', I thought it was a telemarketing term. I did know that everywhere I
seemed to go, people were looking to use their computers as a way of generating income.
And in a lot of cases, they were succeeding.
My husband would wake up each morning, shower, shave and
head to work. I would get an extra hour's sleep before the kids would arouse, demanding
breakfast, and the usual pattern of events would begin. Little by little, my attention
would turn to the computer, and as they lay napping each afternoon. I thought about
conversations I had been having with several ladies in a WAHM forum. One of them wanted a
partner to help with researching jobs that she was selling through a membership on her
site. She detailed how you were guaranteed a weekly check of $725.00. The membership was
high, and even though I was a newbie, I could see the jobs were more or less Multi Level
Marketing offerings, or jobs that required a fee to start up. Now, instead of wasting time
discussing what I shouldn't have done, I will cut right down to the chase. I bought into
this site. I bought into a LOT of sites over the years. Always the same steady promise of
work from home, and 'Oh", how I would make hundreds a week, without an effort
whatsoever on my part. Before long I had heard all the lines, all the stories and all the
promises that always remained broken. I bought memberships, supplies, crafts, paid
processing fees, you name it, and always, with the very same result.
Nothing.
By the time I realized that I was being conned another site
would appear, and I would be sucked right in again. My husband was angry at all the money
I had spent. (He still doesn't know exactly how much :), and I still remained unemployed.
So, what did I do? Is working from home even possible? What
is the end of my story?
Truthfully, there isn't an end. I stopped paying into the
sites that offered incredible promises, and focused on the ones that offered nothing more
than what they could give. They are rare to find, but they really do exist. People that
guarantee you a job from home, are basing their sales on the fact, that you will buy into
this, pay them, and hear nothing from you again.
And yes, working from home is possible. IF you look in the
right direction. Don't look to get rich quick, it doesn't exist. Don't look for an easy
way to make serious cash. It doesn't exist. Don't look for someone else to work for you.
They never will. If you are serious about working from home, you really can do it. But
keep both your eyes open, and don't be blinded by false promises of financial bliss. You
know deep down when something isn't right, when it seems too good to be true, it most
likely is. Keep your sites high, but your goals realistic. And it will happen for you. Be
determined, but DON'T be taken.
As for the end of my story, well let's just say this. After
all the experiences, all the searching, researching, and all that comes with learning the
'hard way', I decided to make a difference. I wanted to spare other mothers from the
heartache I encountered, and swore that I would not clutter the Internet with another site
that preyed on people's needs, desires and vulnerbilities. So, I started a site of my own.
It caters to the work at home 'person', and it not gender oriented. I provide up the
minute listings of jobs available from home, including resume services, advisory
consultations, software programs, business support, information and resources. I do not
charge crazy fee's for my services, and provide more programs and inclusions than any
other site in my field. I am a working mother, and a business owner.
I have the best of both worlds, and though things can get
crazy, and my two worlds collide every now and then leaving me fustrated and stressed out,
if I had to do it all over again, I truly wouldn't have it any other way.
Keep Your Spirits High, and Your Dreams Protected.
About the Author: Catherine Williams is a partner of
the Friends From Home Telecommuting website. She lives in Ontario, Canada where she works
in conjunction with Scholastic Book Services in Toronto. She had written several manuals
for those looking for real work from home, and is an active member of the Scam Free Zone She has
released several pamphlets on Scams, and Internet hoaxes and provides free information for
those needing education on these topics.
This article was originally published on www.amomslove.com
Thank you to Caroline for sharing it with my visitors.
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