Momtrepreneurs

Not so long ago, mothers traditionally stayed home with their children while fathers toiled away at the workplace to pay the bills and make sure their family had the things they needed. Somewhere along the way, women didn't want the role of just mother anymore, and started leaving their nests to fight for equality in the workplace to "bring home the bacon and fry it up in the pan". Now, many mothers are feeling the pull back to a more wholesome family life. Moms want to be home again to raise their babies, but families have had a two-income home for so long that the economy is forcing them to work. Daycare alone can be upwards of $500.00 per child per month. The rising cost of living is only one of the many reasons driving women to find creative ways to make money from home, creating a new breed called ‘momtrepreneurs'.

This trend is new and exciting, and it's bringing the mother back into the family. Women right now are starting businesses at twice the rate of men, and an estimated six million of those are mommies. Many are not only running businesses, but they're juggling kids, sports, husbands, and social lives. Running their own business is the perfect way to fill the void of leaving the 9 to 5 world, but how do they do it? How can you do it?

Moms are very innovative, for starters. Many times they create out of necessity, or simply improve on an already existing product to make it better. Why keep quiet if your idea can help you earn a living from home? Some moms realize that they can make extra money by providing a service not offered in their area, or by improving on one that is. Others become Independent Consultants for existing companies such as Pampered Chef, or At Home America, which provide kits and support.

Now you have an idea of what you want to do. You've researched it, you know what you need to get started, and you feel passionate about it. Running your own business with a family may sound easy, but it can be very hard if you don't take it seriously. To succeed, you need to remember the 3 D's:

• Dedication
• Discipline
• Determination

To be a mommy already takes a huge amount of dedication, but adding a business on top of that can create a huge strain. Remember, you aren't only dedicating yourself to making your business succeed, you're dedicating time to your family as well. It can be hard to find a balance if you don't utilize all of the tools available.

Discipline is very important. It's easy to put things aside with the intention of doing them later, especially with children constantly want food, something to drink, or attention. This is where time management becomes so important. Set aside specific time for work, specific time for family, and make it a point to stay on task, but quit when your time is up. Create realistic goals, and stick to them. Your children are another important piece of the puzzle. Are they old enough to stay out of your hair safely? Do you hire some one to watch them? Do you take them to daycare? Do you work while your husband is home, or while the children are at school? The answers to these will depend on what type of work you are doing and the age of your children, but don't let your business dream fail because you didn't have the diligence to stick to your plan.

Determination has to be the most important part of following your dream of running your own business. Be realistic. The first year of most businesses takes a loss. It may seem hopeless when you work and work and don't see anything happen. When a seed is planted, it has to work very hard to reach out of the dirt to feel the warmth of the sun, but it doesn't give up. As long as you are determined to make it work, it will. Faith is an excellent thing to have when the future seems bleak.

So, you've chosen what you want to do, you've planted the seed by creating a plan, you've watered it with discipline, and determination will see that it blossoms into a successful business.