What do you think is the number one wish of the average woman
when it comes to her work/career life?
I recently did a survey of 100 women, single, married women/stay
at home moms, and divorced women with children, in which I asked
the question, "If could decide what your work life would look
like, what would you choose? The overwhelming majority answered
one of the following ways:
a) Start my own business, be my own boss, make my own schedule
b) Do some type of work that I could make a good living, and
have the ability to stay at home with my children.
Their greatest wish with regard to their work/career lives was
to have the ability to either run their own businesses, or have
the ability to make money at home.
The married women/stay at home moms that I interviewed told me
that their wish for starting their own businesses was to
contribute to the household income, whether or not it was a
financial necessity. The divorced women in the group, mostly
wanted to either be financially free of their ex-husbands
strangle hold on their finances, or wanted to add to that
income, and not be completely dependent on his support, so that
if and when it no longer existed, they did not have to worry
about how they were going to feed themselves and their children.
According to the National Foundation for Women Business Owners,
and the U.S. Census Bureau, "Many women business owners operate
out of their homes. It is estimated (as of 1994) that 3.5
million women have home based businesses. Nearly two-thirds
(63%) of these firms provide full or part-time employment for 14
million people, in addition to the owner."
Those are some incredible numbers. More and more women are
starting their own businesses. It seems to be the way to go.
Back in 2001, I started my first business. I've since started
two other businesses, all of which I diligently work at from the
comfort of my home office. Granted, one of them requires that I
be 'out in the field' from time to time, but I wouldn't trade it
for a regular nine to five for all the money in the world.
I know many women who have started their own successful
businesses. Most of whom started (as I did) as the result of a
divorce. I have one friend in particular, who used to have
constant arguments with her ex-husband about various issues.
When they would argue, he would ask her loudly, "Should I call
my lawyer?" Every time he asked that question, she would quietly
say "No." Little did he know she was working toward opening her
own daycare center. When all of her ducks were in a row, they
had another argument, at which time he asked his usual question,
"Should I call my lawyer?" This time, she looked him dead in the
eye, and replied, "Yeah. You should call your lawyer. Get him to
call my lawyer. Here's his card. We're done." She now owns and
runs a successful daycare center from her home. She also has a 6
month waiting list of children, who are waiting to get into her
daycare.
Are you interested in making your own money at home? From doing
online surveys, to starting your own daycare center, some of the
best home based business opportunities exist right now! Do some
research, choose one, and go for it!
To Your Success!
Melissa Harvey
Copyright 2006 Melissa Harvey All Rights Reserved.
About the author:
Melissa Harvey is a divorced mother of two, who started her
first home business back in 2001. She discovered that there are
many work at home avenues to be followed. See Melissa's home
business suggestions at
http://reallifeafterdivorce.blogspot.com.
