Remember VH1 Behind the Music? This is Behind Working from Home. Like the lyrics in the song by The White Stripes goes, “Every single one’s got a story to tell…” and I’d like to thank Bren Lee of My Girly Parts for giving me a chance to tell my story about how I started working from home.
How It All Started
When I started working at AT&T in 1998, I had one goal in mind; to become a Manager and to work my way up the ladder of success. What I didn’t have planned was the toll it would take on my family for me to reach my goal until a conversation with my oldest daughter Bianca opened my eyes too many years too late.
Looking back at it now I never realized how the kids were being affected by my working so much. You see, the higher I climbed that ladder, the more I was away from home. I believe the term used to call kids who are home alone while the parents are at work is “Latch-key.” I used to hate that term but it’s just what my kids were at that time.
My First Work from Home Ad
Even though I had a career I always visited job search sites to see what was out there. One day I came across an ad for a medical transcriptionist and what got my attention were the words “work from home”. It was perfect. It meant I could finally be home and take care of my family.
I signed up and on my spare time (which was hardly ever) I’d study and type and before I knew it I could transcribe a consult with a minimum of two errors, which is great for a beginner with no experience in the field.
I did more research and found more work from home opportunities. My research went on for several more years. I always had the same reply when I thought about quitting my job and work from home…someday.
The Defining Moment
Fast forward to 2006 and a conversation in the kitchen and Bianca is now 16-years-old. We’re talking about her conduct and grades in school. Right in the middle of our discussion I made the comment that I had never seen her pick up a book. Her reply to that was she doesn’t see me at all and she was right. I was out the door as soon as the kids got up for school and they were fast asleep by the time I got home.
I sat down with my husband and we did some planning to see if we could afford for me to stay home. In black and white there was no way we could make it on one income but the bottom line was we had to do this for our kids.
It was time to make use of all my research and just do it. I had to get over my fears and think about the well-being of my family. On August 2007, I finally took that giant step and quit a job I was at for 9 years.
The Struggles And Finally A Happy Ending
The next four years were full of struggles and adjustments. Learning how to use coupons and carefully planning meals. I was paying more attention to the lights left on in the kitchen and when driving I tackled as many errands in one trip to save on fuel.
I started doing freelance work while still training to be a medical transcriptionist. When I finally took my first work from home job it turned out to be a scam. Talk about getting kicked while you’re down.
As the years passed the telecommuting jobs got better and in between all those crazy moments a new opportunity was waiting for me. I was on my computer in the middle of my normal routine when the idea of putting all my research on a website and blog about my own personal experiences came to me. This is how Work from Home Concepts was born.
The best part of it is my two youngest children are doing great in high school and participating in extra-curricular activities, even being recognized for their achievements. Everything worked out for my oldest children as well. Bianca is a mother of the most happy and entertaining one-year-old boy and Ian is working and just enjoying life.
It was a crazy adventure getting here. Life is going to take you on a journey with unexpected twists and turns. All you have to do is have faith, hold on, and enjoy the ride!