Wednesday, January 13, 2010

The Myth of the Career from Home MOM

It has been over 3 months since I became "God-employed": very blessed, very happy and working harder than ever but without a steady paycheck. If you want to know a little bit about that "infamous" day three months ago that changed everything, click here
Anyway, I have been growing my coaching business and feeling blissful about doing what I love most: supporting moms in the most amazing and challenging jobs of their lives, MOTHERHOOD. It's one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.I have read enough about starting my own business, how to market it, how to use social media, etc. I have taken dozens of seminars and listen to experts talk about the perfect way to improve my business and have the freedom that comes from working from home.


For someone like me, who went from being a Manufacturing Engineer to Motherhood in what seems like a nano-second, I knew deep down inside that my DNA had changed completely once my daughter was born. Showing up in the world in integrity with my calling and my values became my mission. That's part of the reason why I became a parent coach. The journey has been one of many wonderful, inspiring moments and of times when I was sure I didn't have a clue what I was doing. Sound familiar?


Don't get me wrong: I don't want to discourage anyone from pursuing their dreams and following their hearts. I am just realizing how much being a mom mirrors the experience that I am having with my business. Just like in motherhood, no books or seminars or classes, can possible prepare you for the ups and downs that both, moms and moms in business face every day! It's not always the perfect picture that we see in magazines or the ideal situation we read about. It takes work and a lot of work at that!


Would I change the opportunity of raising this amazing soul that is our daughter? Not for all the gold in the world. Is it always easy? Nope. Do I feel like pulling my hair out one minute only to feel like the most blessed human being the next? Absolutely. I guess you can say, I am raising another "child", The Soulful Parent, with just as many tantrums, bad days and emotional, up-lifting moments. Would I change it for a life in the corporate world again? I guess you probably already know the answer to that: ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY not!


Let me ask you something: Do you have any project in your life that feels like giving birth and raising another child? Has parenting taught you anything about how to deal with the challenges of a project like your own business, a non-profit project, or a remodeling job at home? I would love to hear what you have to say!

2 comments:

  1. OK, I'm not a Mom, so no commentary on the process of giving birth...

    But about 3 years ago I ditched the corporate world to start my own mission-driven business from home, and I can relate to your comments above. The highs and lows can be extreme, but overall the experience and the ability to be "embedded" with my family is unparalleled.

    Today's magical moment: when my youngest made me this sign to put on my office door when giving demos:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/famzoo/4272436079/

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  2. Thank you for reminding me to put things in perspective Bill: the ability to be embedded with my family is definitely priceless!
    I loooooved the picture of the sign your son made you.. and how you have it displayed.. what a wonderful reminder of why we do what we do!
    Thank you for sharing!

    A teary-eyed Soulful Parent

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