Mums the Business: Robyn Hatley's Blog for Mums Working from Home, Mumpreneurs and Home Business; Inspirational Stories, Business Tips and Resources from Robyn Hatley, the Business Coach for Mumpreneurs

Starting Your Business - So What’s Really Stopping You?

Even if you love a job or being a full time parent, you've probably heard and thought about the saying "you can't get rich working for someone else."  Maybe you've even thought about your own business and have ideas about what sort of business you could run. Have you thought as far as a name, tag line, and so on?

So what's stopping you registering that business name and starting up?

Many people sitting at home or at work day dreaming about business will be thinking along the lines of "its ok for those rich people, they already have a great business. What could I do? How could I get a business going like them?"A majority of the big names you hear in business were once where you are now - many didn't have a wealthy background, business savvy parents, an exclusive education or numerous contacts to work from.

So, what's the difference between you and those business success stories? Why be so sure you can't succeed like they did?  In reality, the only thing stopping you starting your business and taking it as far as you want to is YOU.

Start with the important business ingredient.  Yes, to start a successful business career, you have to

Work and Family Life - Take Control by Using Your Managerial Skills

Lisa M Roberts writes:

There's a title every work-at-home parent holds. It may not help to advertise it on your business card, but it couldn't hurt as a sign boldly displayed in your home office. What could possibly describe every job an at-home working parent covers?

Try "Director of Business & Family Affairs." It pretty much sums up your life (as much as a single title could!).

The key to making this integrated job position work for you is to see yourself as you are - a Manager. Managerial skills constantly come into play as you juggle the three "departments" of your home career: parenting, business and housework. Without strong managerial skills, one of these "departments" is bound to collapse.

If your workload gets overwhelming at times, just do what all good managers do - draw up a plan. If you've been in management professionally before, you know what's expected of you; if you haven't, draw from your roles as a parent and head (or co-head) of your household.

A manager steps back to see "the big picture" and to develop a course of action, then steps in to set that plan in motion. This takes the ability to:

• Delegate and motivate.
• Schedule and organize.
• Monitor what works and what doesn't.

Be Brave, Be Inspired, Be a WAHM!

Are you a WAHM?

No, this is not a typo!  It’s the official title of the WORK AT HOME MOM

I am busy typing up this article for SmallTalk Magazine, as my (nearly!) three year old is watching a Barney video and enjoying a snack, before we rush out the door in 40 minutes for our Mom & Toddler swim lesson.

I know that this assignment, like all of my work, may need to be completed in dozens of fifteen minute increments, but I’m ok with that! I've put in a full day and it is only 9:30 am. I have walked my eldest daughter to school, delivered a parcel to the post office as they opened, returned a business call, cut up an apple for the (nearly!) three year old, started my nine hundredth load of laundry, answered some e-mails, begun writing some ideas down for an e-program I want to design, taken my (nearly!) three year old to the potty...

Yep, I live in a fragmented world. Multi-tasking has taken on new meaning. AND I WOULD NOT HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY!

The combination of mother and business owner isn't for everyone. For me, however, it is a wonderful blend of inspiration, challenge and soul food that I have never found anywhere else….Whether your business from home is presently underway, or even just a notion that’s warming in your soul, I hope you will read on and enjoy my Top Ten Tips for Being a WAHM...

Home Career: Top 10 Lifetime Improvements A Home Career Brings To Your Family

Role modeling is a priceless gift you offer your children when you become an entrepreneurial parent.

We all know what a home career can bring to an individual - financial reward, professional growth, autonomy, intellectual challenge, to name a few. But what does your home work option bring to the other members of your family? 

Here are the Top 10 Gifts you give to your family when you choose to become a home-based Entrepreneurial Parent. If you are already an "EP," you may be scooping out the following lifetime improvements in large portions already!