Grit, Spit and a Whole Lot of Duct Tape…

Being a work at home mom, or a WAHM, can be one of the most satisfying careers you can have. You have the ability to spend time with your kids while creating a successful business that is all your own. It is not a walk in the park, and requires work, possibly more than you thought when you first started out. But to help you keep your sanity, I offer you a few tips on how to keep going when it seems you have hit the wall.

Trust me when I say, there will be days when you feel like giving up. I have them and so do many of the WAHM’s I know. It is only natural to feel like giving up when things are not going the way we want them to. However, don’t give in to those feelings. There is no such thing as overnight success, nor should you believe anything that remotely smells of “Get Rich Quick” schemes. Success is not found overnight and you certainly will not get rich quick.

There is a scene in one of my daughter’s favorite movies, where a group of penguins are looking at a task that seems almost impossible, and the Skipper says “Boys, it’s going to take grit, spit and a whole lot of duct tape.” The same holds true for work at home moms, and when I get a little down in the mouth, and consider throwing in the towel, I remember that scene, and plow on. You need to be committed to put in time and effort when it comes to building your business in order to reap the benefits of success. It is ok to take a “mental health day” once in a while, but when that day is over, you need to get up, get out of bed and face the day to move forward again.

To help you stay focused and motivated, figure out what your “Why” is. Hanging up pictures of your kids near your computer or phone and writing down what you want to accomplish by working at home can help keep you focused on working towards your goals. Maybe you want to pay off credit card debt or save for retirement or take the kids on a Disney Cruise. Whenever you feel discouraged read what you wrote down or look at the pictures of your kids. Knowing your “why” and staying focused will go a long way in keeping you inspired to keep working!

There are a lot of great groups out there that offer mentoring and support from other WAHM’s who have already found success in being a work at home mom. They know exactly what you are going through, they have been there and done that, and can offer advice when you stuck or need additional motivation. They can also help keep you accountable when it comes to your goals.

If you haven’t taken the time to figure out your “Why” and write down your goals, take the time to do so now. Writing your goals written down on paper gives you a clearer vision of what you are trying to accomplish. Once you have solidified your goals, take a close look at each one and brainstorm and write down specific actions you can take right now to reach them. For instance, if your goal is to network with other WAHM’s, what are three things you can do today to accomplish that? Keep looking forward, keep focused on your goals and you will find yourself achieving success!