It’s been over 3 years since I made the decision to become a full-time work-at-home mom, and that decision was not made lightly. In fact, choosing entrepreneurship over employment was downright agonizing. The “what ifs” and the “what abouts” consumed me for months and drove my husband to buy earplugs (almost). So what was the kicker, the ultimate decision-making tool (s) that helped me “see the light?”
Would you believe a simple pros and cons graph drawn on a Starbucks napkin?
Who da thunk it?
For the sake of helping you make that ultimate decision, I have re-created that napkin in blog post format – without the coffee stains!
My “WAHM Pros and Cons” List:
|
Pros
|
Cons
|
|
| Financial | no clothing, bus or meal expenses no need to go outside of home for a job | no stable employment income, no medical, no pension |
| Family Support | all 4 family members supportive | |
| Taxes | write off expenses for a home based business | need discipline to put away $ for taxes |
| Time | have work flexibility with family life | cannot get away from work – work and home office in the same house |
| Software | will need to purchase a new computer – $ to be invested in set-up costs | |
| Training Required | will be learning new skills -big learning curve | will need to spend $ and time to learn new skills |
So even after making the list, my kids begging me to choose “entrepreneurship” and hubby totally onside, I was still not convinced. Having no entrepreneurial bone in my body, the idea of being my own boss just didn’t sit right. So I created a second assignment for myself.
My “WAHM What If” Checklist:
A checklist of the “what if” scenarios would force me to really see the consequences of choosing to work at home. Here we go.
Financially – Will we go “broke” if I choose to be a WAHM.
Yes or NO
Financially – We will have a lack of money in the short run. Are you okay with that?
Yes or NO
Financially – If someone offers you a set salary with a great job position, will you give up the WAHM lifestyle?
Yes or NO
Time to Grow – How many years will you give your work-at-home business a chance to develop?
- 1 year and then call it quits
- 2-4 years
- 5 years
And on and on. You get the idea.
These were just a few of the tactics I used to steer me in the right direction. If you are struggling to get to the core of the who, what, when where and why of making that big decision, then get out your trusty pen and paper and spend the time to think through the scenarios I have outlined. Make your own decision charts and listen to the entrepreneur within; you’ll know the answer, eventually.
And if you’re reading this on your laptop at the coffee shop, grab a napkin and start writing.
About this Alpha WAHM Blogger: Theresa Scholes is the owner of Click Virtual Assistance specializing in social media and internet marketing strategies and implementation for the online business owner. A firm believer in matching the right actions to realistic goals, Theresa helps time strapped entrepreneurs use the social web to raise their profile and boost profits. 
