:The Mommy Track

What’s Your Motivation?

If you’re reading this article, chances are you want to make a change in your current work situation and figure out a way to work from home. Do you know why? What has changed to make you want to leave the perceived safety and security of a standard 9-5 corporate job?

Maybe you’ve just had your first child or you have another one on the way. Maybe you have an older relative that needs special care. Or maybe you’re just tired of being away from your family and you want to come home.

When I decided to start my home business, my daughter had some major health issues, so I had a very strong motivation for making a life change that has done wonders for my family and me.

Quitting your job to start working from home is a huge and deeply personal decision. When you have a family your career decisions affect other people besides you. Knowing why you want to make a lifestyle change is critical. It helps you get clear on your true wants and desires so you can make an effective action plan that carries you forward.

Sitting On The Sidelines

If you’ve been working full time while someone else has been caring for your children you may feel like you’ve been sitting on the sidelines of life. So many missed opportunities – first words, first steps, missing all of these milestones hurts. My babysitter saw my daughter take her first steps. I’d give almost anything to get that moment back so I could be there. Thank goodness I’m not missing these opportunities now. Having work and life balance is totally possible with good planning and focus.

Traditional corporations are asking so much more of their employees these days. Increased global competition and the need for improved productivity means more hours at the office for you, more after hours conference calls and in many cases increased travel requirements.

My motivation to come home started before my daughter’s third birthday. I really wanted to spend more time with her but my job was all consuming. Every day was a blurred rush - rushing to get ready in the morning and out the door to preschool, rushing out of a meeting at lunchtime to pick her up and drop her off at daycare, and finally rushing out of the office to get to daycare by 5pm.

I was so tired by the time we got home I often fell asleep on the couch while my daughter watched the Disney Channel. I had nothing left. I felt like a full sponge that was completely squeezed out.

And the worst part was that I often had to go back to work from home after my daughter went to bed. During the real crunch times I would start work from home at 5am, do the workday dash, work another 3 hours at night, and then collapse around midnight. Something had to give.

Then my daughter caught a debilitating case of viral pneumonia and was hospitalized for two weeks. That got my attention. My husband and I knew our lifestyle had to change quickly.

Thankfully she recovered from that awful nightmare, but the hidden gift was my renewed commitment to come home to her by starting a part time home based business. When my daughter got sick I had to find a way to work from home fast. She was my driving motivation and nothing could stop me from achieving my dream.

The Time Is Now

So what’s your motivation? Is a work at home lifestyle right for you? There’s no better time than right now to start making a plan to change your life for the better. You just need to know why you want to work from home so you can start taking the proper steps to point your life in the right direction.

While my daughter’s illness gave me strong motivation and unstoppable drive, I would’ve quit my job anyway. I wanted to spend more time with her. What would you do with more time at home?

Think long and hard about why you need to make this important lifestyle change. Make time now to reflect on what it is you truly desire for your life and family. Let the other things wait for a little while so you can start laying a strong foundation for the future. Discover your true motivation and let it drive you forward. Your true priorities will become clear and you can finally start moving toward your dreams.

Mary Shaw is a part time work at home mom and the author of The Mommy Track: How To Live A Full Time Life On Part Time Income.

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