Building your own WAHM business is not an easy task. While I find it to be one of the most fulfilling things I have ever done, it can at times be overwhelming.

There's so much to do. And all the decisions rest in my hands. That means I am responsible for the successes, and the failures.

If you're not careful, that can turn your life into a virtual rollercoaster ride.

You are NOT your business

One of the best pieces of advice I ever received from a business coach was "you are not your business." He coached me to NOT get emotionally wrapped up in my work-at-home business and whether or not a marketing tactic worked, or whether or not people were buying.

Those are simply business-related results and are not a personal reflection of me, the business owner.

I have also been counseled by others to NOT take negative feedback about my work-at-home business, personally.

Logically, I agree with this advice. Problem is, it's sometimes hard to put into practice. When you are pouring your heart and soul into building a WAHM business that feeds your passion as well as your family, it's tough to be detached.

And, when your WAHM business is on your mind 24/7, it's easy to feel like your business IS your life.

A simple remedy

I firmly believe that as work-at-home moms we need to take periodic "time-outs" from our business if we want to keep going for the long-haul.

Summertime is a great time to do this because many businesses naturally slow down in the summer. People take vacations and their priorities switch. And, you may be less focused on business as well if your kids are home for the summer.

So, it's a good time for you to step back, evaluate your business, your marketing and your goals, and prepare for the second half of the year.

Here are 5 steps you can take now, to refresh and rejuvenate yourself and your WAHM business, so you are both poised for growth and success when fall rolls around and the kids head back to school.

1) Take a business "time-out"

Sometimes we get so busy "doing" we forget to allow space for abundance to come to us. If you fill every waking moment with activity, there is no room left for anything else. Take a day, or a week, or two weeks off and go play.

If you can't afford to take a vacation, then just don't work. Instead, sleep in. Read. Relax. Play with your kids. Go to the beach. Go to the mountains. Go for a walk. Do whatever YOU enjoy and don't think, or worry, about work.

The simple activity of doing nothing on your business for a short period of time can often move your work-at-home business forward faster than all of your hard work and activity. Because it provides clarity, focus and space for great things to
happen.

2) Check your progress on your annual goals and objectives.

Now's a great time to go back and review your marketing plan. What goals and objectives did you set for the year? Are you half-way there?

If not, where are you and what changes can you make to ensure you achieve them by year's end? Now is the time to address any shortcomings and get back on track ... before the year is over and it's too late.

3) Review your marketing tracking reports.

Hopefully you've been tracking all of your marketing activities. Now is a great time to pull out those tracking reports and review them. Take a look at what's working and what's not working. Use this information to adjust or fine-tune your
marketing plan and activities for the rest of the year.

4) Review how you are spending your time.

Take a look at how you are spending your time. Are you doing the work you love or do you find yourself bogged down with tasks you don't enjoy. Do you have help for the tasks that are not a good use of your time or are you still doing everything yourself?

Make a plan to maximize your time and delegate the tasks you don't like or that someone else could easily do for you.

5) Make adjustments accordingly

Don't be afraid to make changes to your work-at-home business or to your marketing plan. The craziest thing you can do is to keep doing what you've been doing if it isn't working or getting you the results you want. Sit down and update your plans.

Do more of what's working and less of what's not. Try something new. Sometimes a breath of fresh air is all we need to re-energize ourselves and our WAHM business.

© Copyright 2007 Debbie LaChusa
 

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Debbie LaChusa feels blessed to be a work at home mom who gets to spend time with her family, do work she loves and earn a great living. She founded 10stepmarketing and 6FigureWorkAtHomeMom to help other working moms do the same. To see a free "Tribute to Work At Home Moms" video and register for free WAHM tips, visit http://www.6FigureWorkAtHomeMom.com.

 

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