Wednesday, June 27, 2012

My $500 Lesson


My $500 Lesson
Have you ever tried a “Work From Home Job”? Without much success? Yeah? Me too. I have had my own experience with a work from home “opportunity” and......let’s just say, it did not go so well.
Quite a while ago I had an opportunity to make a little money working from home making phone calls. Not the most exciting line of work but I needed some money and I figured I could make my own hours and be at home. Not too shabby. I just needed to purchase a little mechanism that attaches to my computer so I could make long distance calls at no cost ($46 - which I paid for....Red Flag). I was to be paid a decent amount of money, BUT, the catch was I would not be able to be paid until after I worked a month. This was a start up company and we needed to generate an inflow of money with our phone calls before we could get paid.
Red Flag Red Flag Red Flag Red Flag Red Flag!!!! Well, I should have listened to my gut. It was screaming. But when you need money, you need money.  This job seemed so convenient, too convenient.  Another Red Flag! Ugh....I hate when I don’t listen to that nagging gut.
I went ahead and did my part, working as I said I would.  I created my own little schedule and took my job seriously. I did get a check for $125 after a month of work (part time) and I was told the $500 still owed to me would be paid. Well, it never came. After months of emails back and forth I even tried to make a payment plan for the gentleman, (not the right word to describe him), so he could pay me monthly if need be. He said he would. Never happened. 
I take people at their word. I am honest and I believe others to be too. I still do, even after this experience. But I learned a few lessons. I am wiser now and I trust my gut. But sadly, not everyone is as honest as they should be. 
Why do I share this story? Because I know I am not the only one who has had an experience like this. Also because I did finally find a home based business that is all that that other business was not. Profitable, fun, and creative. 
There are several things you should do when looking for a great stay at home/home based business. 
  • Do your homework.
  • Check out the person who is selling to you/wants you to work for them.
  • Ask for referrals.
  • Most importantly Trust Your GUT! It is always right. If something does not feel right, don’t do it.
There will always be people who scam others. Just be aware and wise. You have the most important piece of the puzzle inside of you when needing to make decisions like this. Trust that little voice inside you that helps you make decisions. BUT, if you are like me, and you have, at times, not listened to that little voice, well, you have a good lesson learned. :)
Feel free to share a story you have had. It feels good to vent sometimes.
~Amy

Friday, June 22, 2012

Summer Time and Clay Handprint Training


School is out and summer is in full swing. Each year I get a bit......STRESSED OUT....as this process is happening. It is a time when I start to think, OH NO what have I gotten myself into? My boys are around and needing rides, money, food, friends, baseball games, practices, food, money. :) I think to myself, how am I going to juggle this summer and still be productive with my business? This year I kindly and gently reminded myself that this happens each and every summer and somehow I am able to create a schedule and plan that works....it just takes a few weeks to put it into place.

Today was no exception, as I juggled the stress of juggling work and my boys. My work space is part of my open front room. I am pretty much front and center as my boys come in and out of the house. (It is kind of nice that way....they HAVE to say hello to me). But, summertime is a change in the norm and I need to deal with it.  I can either snap at my boys for bothering me or be thankful they are “bothering” me. I am blessed to be able to work from home and when I look at it this way I realize that I choose this. I can put down what I am working on and scooch on over to my large 15 year old who is sitting on the couch in my office, because he wants to. :)  I am able to sit next to him and have a little conversation with him. Moments like this, on a summer day, remind me why I choose to work at home. Some days it seems a bit crazy and some days it goes way better than I could have ever expected and other days I am just thankful that my 15 year old came into my office and spent 5 minutes with me talking about his music.

I didn’t get too much done as far as work goes today. I will work harder tomorrow. I will get up earlier and get a few hours in before they wake up. But, today, I got to spend time with my boys running them around to friend’s houses and the golf course. I got to do these things. I am thankful for those moments.

Just like the little hand and foot impressions I create, freezing time, these little moments with my teenagers are fleeting. They are at the stage in life where friends are more fun than Mom. So, I will put down what I am doing and I will embrace my moment with my handsome boy and I will be thankful he chose to sit on my couch.

How do you juggle your summer days? What little adjustments do you make to your schedule so you can fit it all in? I would love to hear. :)

Here’s to happy summer, busy, fun filled days.

Enjoy!

~Amy

Monday, June 4, 2012

Clay Handprint Training

I am happy to announce my new website! After much change and growth and moving on..... www.clayhandprinttraining.com has been born. I will be adding a few bells and whistles over time, as a website is always a work in progress. :)

My business has been under a large overhaul over the past couple of months. It has been a wonderful experience and a time for renewal and devotion. I am loving my new role as business coach. I love helping others get up and going in a business that brings joy, creativity, art, and new relationships all wrapped into one. I have found it to be such a perfect business and now that I get to help others.....oh my! I love it. So check out my new site and let me know what you think. Please feel free to leave a comment below. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Remember life is a journey and it is always more fun to push yourself, for that is where you grow. :)

Much love,

~Amy