There are so many wonderful things I love about being a Work-At-Home-Mom (WAHM). At the top of my list is the ability to be there for my learning disabled children. My six year old son, Noah, suffers from Autism. My two year old son, Stephen, suffers from Pervasive Development Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). When you are balancing two sets of therapy schedules, three freelance positions, and trying to get a little face time in with your husband, things can get a little crazy in your daily planner. No one really knows what anyone else’s life is like and I am flattered that you’ve been very curious about mine. Since I have received so many emails from the readers of my blog; I decided instead of answering each person individually, I would simply publish the answers on the very blog that generated each inquiry. The number one question revolved around how I do all of the things that I showcase in my blog.
The answer isn’t as complicated as some of you were lead to believe. The fact of the matter is since I am working for small periods of time for multiple clients and customers on a broad spectrum of projects, the most important thing for me are to manage my activities during a set amount of time wisely. It’s not the “time” you concentrate on; it is the “efficiency of the activity.” This is my key for how I manage to get so much done: (1) I schedule my time carefully in 20 minute intervals until my “list of things to do today” actually get done. (2) I prioritize my phone calls into (a) immediate answer or return, (b) 24 hour return, (c) 48 hour return and also try to ensure that a response rarely goes past the third day. All important calls are followed up with a fax or an email to recap the talking points and to document where I am in the project with the client.
As an independent contractor who telecommutes I have to be very careful about my attitudes toward the flexibility in my schedule. You control your schedule and can not blame someone else for what you fail to do with it. I am responsible for my own health insurance, errors and omission insurance, general operating expenses, transportation, marketing and overhead. If I am not careful with my management of my activities or fail to schedule adequate time to perform my goals, then my business may fail. As a Real Estate Paralegal operating (1) a Mobile Notary Signing Agent business, (2) conducting legal research/investigations and (3) working as a New York State licensed Realtor, my self-management style is based upon obtaining “the most bang for my buck,” e.g. maximizing a final result while minimizing time, costs and commuting. If you are anything like me and your wireless laptop and cell phone is your office, then technically your business can virtually remain open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. This WAHM is never absent; I am always on duty and simply an email, fax and / or phone call away.
On a final aside, yes I am an artist and I create illustrations, fine art, and graphic art and absolutely love my photography, however, I treat my creativity as seriously as I treat my e-commute and schedule time for those activities accordingly. I even treat my blogs as a job and take the branding of my name and association very seriously. If you are going to be a WAHM, then time and activity management is the key.
The Energizer Bunny has nothing on you. LOL
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CAROLYN - I'm surprised that your headshot doesn't show you wearing a cape! You are definitely someone that we should look up to for inspiration. It's interesting that you started Club Chaos, when you have managed to turn your life into anything but Chaos. Maybe you should start the group Organized Chaos, and teach us more about time management.