guest post: Why Working From Home Isn’t Just a Pipe Dream
December 16, 2011 by Stephanie · Leave a Comment
Please welcome Izzy Woods, a freelance writer and journalist. Izzy first contacted me about a guest post for Totally Together on November 7, then touched base with me again on November 11, November 18, November 30, and then again today: December 16.
Izzy’s credits include writing for the US Daily Review, Organic Health, Wiki-bee, and Capitol Macintosh. She shares her work-from-home story with us below but I can tell you right now why Izzy has succeeded: she never, ever, ever, ever gives up. And neither should you.
also: the Big Dreams Mama site is running an interview they did with me about *my* big dream, and is hosting a More Make it Fast giveaway.
2012 is going to be a wonderful year—- I just know it.
Why Working from Home Isn’t Just a Pipe Dream
I’ve never been one for the nine-to-five. Even when I first entered the working world, I knew that I couldn’t stick to such rigid hours. To start with, that caused me quite a few problems – not least of which was paying my rent! It was then that I stood back, took stock, and decided what I really wanted to do was become a writer. I knew that simply writing a novel or short story wasn’t going to ‘bring in the bacon’, so to speak, so I decided to become a freelance copywriter.
It wasn’t easy, and it’s taken a long time, but I can now say that I make a decent living from writing online. And best of all, I can do it all from the comfort of my own home. I’d like to share with you exactly how I did, and offer some invaluable advice straight that I wish someone had told me when I was getting started!
Sharpen your skills
The first step you need to take before entering the world of freelance writing is ensuring that your writing skills are up to the job. The last thing you want to do is secure a large contract then be unable to provide the quality content your client will no doubt be after. If you think your writing ability needs a little polish, there are plenty of courses available online that can help with your spelling, punctuation, and grammar. It’s a great way to ensure you’re providing the best possible service.
Know how to find new work
Once I was ready to start working, I hit a bit of a roadblock: where am I going to find work? I’d heard so many horror stories about scammers and the many problems that freelance writers can have, so I was understandably wary. In the end, I decided that a career path such as this inherently contains some risk, and the main thing to do is limit that risk as much as possible. That means that when you reply to a job posting, you should always thoroughly research your clients. I’ve had at least two or three over ten years that were very unscrupulous and ended up not paying.
That’s when I learned: always get a signed contract.
It will protect you from scams, and keep everything above board from a legal point of view. Once you’ve got this nailed down, you’ll be able to enjoy a huge array of potential clients, from golf shoe manufacturers to websites that offer coupons. Variety is the spice of life, after all.
Be proactive and reactive
I started out by finding a lot of my writing jobs on sites like Craigslist and other job boards, but recently I’ve started using ‘Pay Per Click’ advertising like Google Adwords. Both of these methods can be successful; however I’ve found that I get the best quality jobs from PPC adverts linking to my personal website. This way, the client is actively looking for help, and is generally less likely to be a scammer. Always be cautious when applying for advertised jobs; my golden rule is and always will be ‘if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.’ I remember one job when I was starting out, the pay was huge for the amount of work required and I thought I’d hit the jackpot! Of course, I never saw a penny and lost hours of work. The lesson was to always check out prospective clients, always get a contract, and always be realistic about what a client is offering.
The freedom of working from home
With the words of warning out of the way, let’s focus on the positive. By becoming a freelance writer, I’ve been able to enjoy a much higher quality of life. I generally set my own hours, and I’m always comfortable at home. I don’t have to worry about bosses because I’m my own. Being a freelance writer has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done – and I’m proud of the time and effort I’ve put in to get here. If you want to follow the same path, just remember that you’ll need plenty of time, plenty of effort, and (perhaps more importantly), a boat load of patience!
Winning the Game of Life. (wait, is this all just a game?)
October 12, 2011 by Stephanie · Leave a Comment
This is the exact game box that’s collecting dust on the closet shelves in the family room at my parents’ house.
I haven’t played with it in over twenty years.
because it takes too long.
… insert metaphorical psycho babble…
When things are going well, does that mean that you are #winning (thank you Charlie Sheen!) the Game of Life?
Does that mean that others are losing?
if you are sick, or hurt, or hungry, or worried, or disorganized, or scared, or poor, does that mean you are #losing?
Does that mean that your situation was just the luck of the draw, or that you must simply play the hand you’re dealt?
that can’t be the case. it just can’t be.
No one has all the answers on how to play this game. No one can anticipate all the wildcards and roadblocks Life brings. The only thing that seems to work, is to pull out the directions, smooth out the creases and recommit to staying on course.
Back to School, back to work
August 26, 2011 by Stephanie · 9 Comments
Photo inventory:
1 basket of clean laundry, unfolded and dumped on the living room floor
1 basket of clean laundry, folded and left on couch
2 “used” baby socks
2 brand-new shoes still bungee corded together
1 too-expensive rolling backpack
45 whole crayons; 3 broken
1 broken blue bead necklace (hanging from the couch cushion)
3 empty Target bags
and when I swivel away from the living space to look at the table:
Photo Inventory:
1 new lunchbox that is supposed to be used FOR SCHOOL ONLY
2 new BPA-free water bottles
1 water bottle ‘cozy’ that came with the lunchbox (completely unnecessary)
random leftover lunch stuff: sliced turkey meat, cut up apples, tortilla chips & hummus
1 abandoned laptop and 3 notebooks
1 very cheeky 19-month-old baby (helping herself to hummus)
106 new gray hairs
I mistakenly thought I could get some work done while the children played peacefully inside or frolicked in delight outside (isn’t that what children are supposed to do? Frolick?) . Yeah. I know.
delusional.
But you know what? This is real life. Not a glossy magazine. Stuff happens. Mistakes happen.
Life happens.
and it’s okay.
Give yourself a hug—- you’re doing a fantastic job. Already.
School begins for us on September 6th. I loved having everybody home with me for the summer, but I’m done. How are things going with you?
When All Else Fails, Put One Foot in Front of the Other
August 1, 2011 by Stephanie · 17 Comments
Adam ran a full marathon yesterday. Today he is taking a lot of Advil.
I had over four hours to sit and think by the finish line while I waited for him to reappear— and when he did, I finally exhaled a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
I think a lot of us are holding our breath.
release it.
you are doing a great job.
already.
Remember being young, and not being able to wait for the next thing to happen? Christmas. Your birthday. The new school year. You counted down the months, the weeks, the days until the Next. Big. Thing.
Most of us still do this.
I can’t wait until I’m married. I can’t wait until we have a house. I can’t wait until we have a baby. or two kids. or three.
I can’t wait until we re-do the kitchen. Until we go to Europe. Until we have a bigger house.
Until we retire.
Until we win the lottery.
STOP.
Don’t wait to start living your life the way you want to—- just begin. The race has already started. You can fight it, or you can get caught up in the music, the frenzy, the cheering, and put one foot in front of the other and begin running.
but I don’t like my shoes.
and I don’t have one of those GPS watch-thingies.
If you are reading this, you have access to the internet. And probably own many more things than you need. Most likely you have a warm bed and and a full belly each night.
You are already winning.
and you are so very blessed and so very lucky.
appreciate it.
breathe deeply—- and appreciate it.
When you cross the finish line, what do you want it to look like? Do you want your chest puffed up, full of pride, while you smile for the cameras? Do you want to wave your arms around, all silly, and quack like a duck? Do you want to cross and then immediately fall in a heap and proclaim: “never, never, never again”?
Will you limp across? Will you crawl across? Will you feel triumphant, or will you feel defeated?
Every Day is a New Gift.
No, really: Every Day Is A New Gift.
do you feel that way today? will you feel that way tomorrow? what do you need to do to get to that point?
PS: it’s not going to be a new kitchen…
Time Management for Moms
June 29, 2011 by Stephanie · 14 Comments
I’m kind of fascinated by time management. I’ve lost count of the number of books I’ve read or listened to on tape/cd about this subject— probably well over a hundred. Whenever I have a moment or two in the library and I’m not stuck in the toddler corral, I wander into the business books and gather anything from the 658 or 332 shelves that I haven’t already read.
Most business books focus around time management and productivity. Productivity=money in business.
If you take a random poll while walking the streets, I’d venture to bet that most people wish they had more of 2 things: time and money.
I can’t really help with the money, but I can help free up some more time in your day.
Change Your Mindset.
This is probably the biggest obstacle to overcome–myself, included. If you have already decided that you don’t have enough time in the day to get it all done, you’ve defeated yourself before you’ve even begun. Don’t set yourself up for failure.
Remember when we talked about changing your vocabulary? This is the same thing. Decide that each day is a blank slate and schedule out what you want to accomplish.
Learn How to Say No.
Don’t agree to anything that doesn’t directly benefit your family. I know. It sounds callous, but if you don’t want to go to the class bowling party, don’t. RSVP no. Don’t lie– just say it’s not going to work out for you and leave it at that. If you don’t want to help organize the Church rummage sale, or arrive early to set up the chairs for the PTA meeting, don’t do it. It’s not healthy to say yes then run yourself ragged living up to a commitment you didn’t want to make in the first place.
Take back your time. Once you feel as if you’re in control of your time instead of outside influences being in charge, you can begin volunteering again.
Get Up Early.
When I suggest getting up early people sometimes freak out. In all the case studies I’ve read of successful people or people who “make it happen” they each have the same characteristic: they get up early. Usually at 5.
I know. I’m sorry.
I’ve done all the acronyms: SAH, WOH, WFH (stay at home, work out of the home, work from home) and I can absolutely-without-a-doubt credit getting up early as the key to a successful day. When I’m up in a quiet house, I feel peaceful. I love watching the sun rise while I sip my coffee, doing yoga without an audience, or going for an early morning walk or run. When I’m on a deadline, I use that hour or two to work.
In 2008 when I did the crockpot year, I got up at 4am most days. I was working from home doing 2 part time jobs, doing the crockpot stuff, and writing the first manuscript for the Totally Together Book. It was nuts, but I knew I needed to keep going. Once or twice a week I also did what I call the “split shift”: I went to bed at 8pm, then got up from midnight to 4am to work. I then slept till 7am when the kids woke me up.
The first week is the hardest, but it gets easier. I’d highly recommend putting the alarm clock on the other side of the room so you need to get all the way out of bed to turn it off. Once you’re out of bed it’s harder to climb back in (which every single day you’ll want to).
You Don’t Work 9 to 5, You Work 5 to 9
When my oldest was about 6 months, I listened to a time management book on tape which is what gave me the idea to make a day planner for moms. I emailed the Franklin Covey company and we corresponded a few times before they blew me off (they did send a 15% off coupon, though!) and I decided to create my own.
One of the lightbulb-moments I had while I was playing around with the project was the realization that I was trying to cram everything I needed/thought I needed to do between the hours of 9am to 5pm. I wanted EVERYTHING done for the day before dinner. I was under the misguided impression that the laundry, etc. should be completely finished before I watched TV or relaxed a bit. Once I started folding laundry during my tv goof-off hour (or whatever) I felt better; more whole.
This doesn’t mean that YOU, personally, need to do everything around the house—I’m a big fan of delegation and whole-heartedly believe that all of the chores should be divvied out among the children and the sexes.
Cut Yourself Some (lots of) Slack.
There are times in your life that will always be crazier than others. When you’re pregnant, nursing, not sleeping, sick, the kids are sick, on a huge work deadline stuff just isn’t going to run as smoothly as it does when everyone is on their A-Game. Know this and accept it. Life is not a contest, nor is it a picture-perfect spread in a design magazine.
You’re doing an awesome job. You really are.
The Daily 7 for a Highly Successful Household
PROM (purge, remove, organize, maintain)
How to Company Clean in 30 Minutes or Less
Time Management and Social Media: an oxymorom?
Take All the Time You Need
April 27, 2011 by Stephanie · 10 Comments
Good Morning! I spent the first few hours of the day outside today while the baby (almost sixteen months already!) frolicked in the grass completely naked. Frolicked sounds like such a frivolous word—but that’s truly what she did. She was thrilled to run without a diaper, and skampered about with pure delight.
It was wonderful.
even though her mom made an executive decision to not put sunscreen on her shoulders and figured 15 minutes of under-seventy degree weather was fine and now she has her very first sunburn.
oops.
How are things with you? Are you remembering to slow down and soak things in? Are you remembering that life is a journey to be enjoyed and not a race to the finish line?
I forgot this a few weeks ago. I let myself feel other people’s stress. I allowed myself to get sucked into DRAMA that had nothing to do with me. I allowed myself to absorb the tension in others instead of letting it wash over me and then down the drain.
My wise friend Shirley told me last week that life truly is like a roller coaster—you can fight this fact, or you (universal you, although I let her speak directly to me 
) can go with the flow and enjoy the ride.
This morning I enjoyed the ride, and I challenge you to do the same. There will always, always, always be something that you “should” be doing. But usually the shoulds just don’t matter.
they really don’t.
I have received the proofs yesterday for the Totally Together journal. This has been an over-eight-years-in-the-making project, and it’s finally going to print. I was told “no” dozens of times. It took me two years to find a literary agent and then another two years to secure publication, just for it to disappear due to the economic downturn.
Each time I was told “no,” I was upset. It bothered me that agents or publishers couldn’t see my vision. It annoyed me that I allowed myself to become upset. I figured if I was a stronger person, I could take disappointment with grace and not let it weigh me down. I felt guilty for wanting this book to come alive since I had succeeded with the crockpot site/books. I felt guilty for wanting more. I felt like I wasn’t supporting the “brand” of a slow-cooking expert, whatever that means.
I still feel that way at times.
The fact that it’s finally coming out makes my heart swell with pride in such a different way than I felt with the crockpot books. This was something I worked at—and while the crockpot thing was work, it was a different kind of work. I think this was the book/tool I was supposed to produce.
I’ve got a lot of ideas that I want to implement in the next little while to help tie this site to the crockpot site. It’s going to take time, effort, and work. But this time, I’m not going to fight it—-instead, I’m going to trust that the twisty obstacle course is meant to happen. Shirley is right.
I’m going to enjoy the ride.
I found this today under the play structure–the kids drew it where it can’t be washed away by either rain or the sprinklers. I loved finding it out of the blue.
Even if you’re having an otherwise-icky day, find a rainbow. It’s there, somewhere.
I hope your day is filled with lots and lots and lots of love.
Getting Ready for Easter
image courtesy of ListsoPlenty.com
Easter is coming, and the bunny’s getting fat.
or something along those lines…
It looks like we’ll have a full house this year, and I couldn’t be happier. Adam and I really enjoy having everybody over to our house, rather than having to hop (HA! HOP! so didn’t plan that) around from house to house to ensure we see all of the relatives.
We’ve usually got the cooking stuff squared away, but in the last day or two we do need to kick it up a notch around the house in order to feel relaxed and comfortable when guests arrive. The good news is that our family is a team, and nothing fully rests upon any one person (like me. ) If you find that you are feeling overwhelmed, take a deep breath and remember that your family loves you no matter what, and they are not judging you for the layer of dust clinging for it’s life from the ceiling fan blade.
really. they aren’t.
but in the mean time, press pause, climb on the table with a box of baby wipes (or clorox wipes) and clean that puppy off before someone inadvertantly flips the switch and you’ve got dust bunnies (HA! again! but I felt that one coming on…) stuck to the deviled eggs.
Here are some past articles to help you out:
How to Company Clean in 30 Minutes–or less!
if you’re on top of things, why don’t you cross a few things off of your Punch List this weekend. It’s amazing how a tiny bit of touch-up paint around the doorjams really brightens and freshens a room. If that’s not possible, IT’S OKAY. Use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and call it a day.
Your family is here to see you and the kids. It’s your house, your rules, your day.
life is good.
I‘ve got a new interview up with Michelle Stern, of What’s Cooking With Kids that you should totally check out. She went from being a Pampered Chef consultant to starting her own certified-green cooking school, wrote a cookbook, and visited the White House for the Chefs In Schools initiative! I’m giving away a copy of her new cookbook, The Whole Family Cookbook.
Happy Wednesday!
March 30, 2011 by Stephanie · 5 Comments
Spread some joy today.
The sun is finally here to stay in my neck of the woods (I don’t sound like an 80-year-old man when I use that phrase, do I?)
no need to answer…
and all of a sudden the world is fine again. Sometimes I forget how desperately I need the sun and it’s marvelous Vitamin D, but I guess I do.
I’ve been soaking it in the past few days, and all of my worries seem to have quieted. I’m so glad. It’s been a hard first quarter for pretty much everyone I know.
let’s clink glasses (cranberry juice; maybe I have a UTI? is that TMI?) to a MUCH better second quarter.
I did go to BlogHer BET (business, entreprenuers, technology) conference last Friday and enjoyed myself. I almost chickened out at the last minute when I got an email suggesting I have a pitch deck and bring it along.
But you all calmed me down (THANK YOU) and I attended empty-handed and open-minded. It was the right thing to do. If anything, it made me realize that I should “get out there more” and meet new people with new ideas. It also made me realize that I don’t have to have a bunch of letters listed after my name to hobnob with the bigwigs (now THAT made me sound like an 80-year-old-man, I’m sure of it).
One of my favorite sessions was the Branding session (led by Gina Garrubbo, who I could listen to talk about the mating practices of slugs and be interested) and got me thinking about how what you put on the internet stays on the internet, and that will “brand” you forever. Since we’re raising kids in this digital age, it’s something we need to be very aware of for them.
There have been some interesting PR bumbles this past week that I find fascinating. I know I’ve mentioned before that part of running a business is keeping track of what is said about you, and to respond appropriately. The best way to do this is to have a bunch of google alerts in place (your name, your site’s name, your site’s URL, etc).
this is why you should monitor:
Let’s say your an author and you don’t like an online review (including an Amazon review, btw) DO NOT go in and try to defend your work or your name. Ever. Nope, not even then. let it go. Why? Here’s why. I feel terrible for this poor lady. I really don’t think she knew how the internet works and how to play the game. I felt as if I was reading a transcript for Punk’d.
You are a celebrity cake judge on National TV. You have been cast as the villain. Do not allow your people/friends defend you when Kristy Sammis (hysterically, I may add) satires you. It makes you look like you can’t keep your people inline.
Or maybe you are a bonafide celebrity chef and you don’t realize that your “people” denied a critically ill child’s request to meet you. Twice. And so they took it to the Internet. This is why you should have a google alert out! so then you know!
What about the stupid, ridiculous remark you made on Facebook poking fun at those with Celiac Disease or those with other VERY serious medical conditions who require a gluten free diet? What if you happen to be a chef at a restaurant and admit on this Facebook page that you PURPOSELY gave customers regular wheat pasta “because they wouldn’t know any better?”
So there you go. All of those names (specifically not written out because HELLO, GOOGLE ALERTS!) will forever live on in Internet archives, and not in a good way.
Grace Duffy, whom I met at BlogHer BET, just wrote on She Posts an interesting article summarizing just this: the Internet Doesn’t Forget.
have a great day! remember: spread some joy today. and vacuum under the couch cushions. it’s been a while…
here’s a bit of joy, right off the internet. Talking twin babies.
Making the Most of Your Time
February 15, 2011 by Stephanie · 3 Comments
Ah, time. There just never seems to be enough, and no matter how hard you try to stop or freeze it, it just keeps on passing.
Everyone always says they would like more money, but is it really money that they want, or is it the freedom of time they believe money can buy?
time to travel. time to garden. time to have a hobby. time to read. time to do yoga.
time to collect garden gnomes.
time to sleep.
Everyone is allotted the same 24 hours each day, so why is it that some people get more done in the day? Are they sacrificing something important? Do they not eat or sleep? Do they have a secret space-time continuum they enter when no one’s looking?
maybe.
Or maybe “these people” have made a conscious decision to treat time as an endangered resource and deliberately choose how each minute/hour is spent instead of allowing it to pass by without notice.
I have always said that I hate rules and I hate people telling me what to do. I still say that, but I know it’s not really true. It’s not true because I never feel more on top of my game as I do when I’ve got a plan in place and follow through. This could be as simple as a meal plan, a plan to pay off a certain bill, a list of chores to check off, or a game plan of how I’m going to teach math facts to my 6-year-old.
so why am I so hesitant to make a daily plan?
Human nature. I know what works for me, but the idea of making a set plan, or list of chores, or daily schedule sounds daunting and overwhelming so I don’t do anything and instead sit on the couch watching OTHER people live their lives on the television.
sound familiar?
We need to end this cycle.
This is it. Move forward from today. Onwards and Upwards!
The difference between successful and unsuccessful people is that the successful people do the things that the unsuccessful do not. –Brian Tracy
related posts:
time management and social media (an oxymoron?)
making a (non-cheesy) vision board
the Daily 7 For a Highly Successful Household
Permission Granted
January 28, 2011 by Stephanie · 9 Comments
I’ve been doing an awful lot of thinking lately about the meaning of life. It’s a deep topic, I know.
I’m not sure that there IS a universal meaning of life or a one-size-fits-all version, but I am beginning to have a clearer view on what it means to me, and to my family.
and it’s pretty simple:
BE HAPPY.
That’s it. It’s terribly simple and ridiculously simplified, but at the end of the day, that’s what really matters to me.
Everyone chooses their own happiness—my happiness is not the same as yours. While I love reveling in a great drama showdown between the Real Housewives on Bravo, I do not want to live drama in my own neighborhood or circle of friends, and therefore change the subject when a girlfriend starts gossiping. While it’s a conversation starter to bring up the weather, I’d rather focus on the GOOD parts of the weather, not the bad. Rain brings flowers, sun gives us Vitamin D., etc.
Does that mean that I’m living in denial about certain things? That I’m acting like a PollyAnna?
maybe.
I recently met (super briefly) Steven Fogel, the author of “My Mind is Not Always My Friend“.
I listened intently as Steven explained that the voices in your head should be treated as a cabinet of advisers, similar to the President’s advisers. YOU are the commander-in-chief of these voices, and YOU get decide what to do with them. Do you take their advice to gossip, or get annoyed and lash out when someone takes your parking space, or do you take the time to step back and look at the entire situation?
Do you immediately get upset when the bag of flour gets dumped all over the kitchen floor, or do you take a step back and realize the flour got dumped because your 4-year-old was trying to make cookies all by himself? For you.
It’s a constant choice, and we’re all works in progress. No one is perfect, and I’m certainly not trying to make it seem as if I act appropriately at all times, because I most certainly don’t. There are days when I both rant and rave.
But I’m working on it. Because at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is that I’ve tried my hardest, the kids are warm, dry, fed, & loved, and Adam feels supported. All the other stuff is trivial.
fluff.
nonsense.
So what’s with the title?
I’ve titled this “permission granted” because I think it’s time that permission IS granted to just be happy. To be thankful. To count the blessings. We’ve had a really hard few years—all of us. Our country is at war, the economy has tanked, millions are out of work, education is plummeting, and people don’t feel safe in large crowds.
it sucks.
But this suckitude (sucky attitude?) is like a virus that spreads, and if you (I) dwell in it, it just spreads and gets worse.
and that’s not good for anyone.
January is practically over. Most people I know started the year feeling FANTASTIC. This was it. 2011 was the year that could do no wrong.
If you find that you’re having a hard time getting this FANTASTIC feeling back, make a change. Distance yourself from negative news/thoughts/feelings/people.
You are in charge. YOU are the commander-in-chief.
related:
I’m not going to be “that kind” of grown-up
how to make a (non-cheesy) vision board
I’ve started a Gluten Free TV segment and my very first guest is Shirley Braden, from Gluten Free Easily! click on over to stephanieodea.com to check it out.
