For years I’ve been country living with a city paycheck, while working at home in a variety of capacities.

It began with freelancing, then consultation only for a select group of clients (most of them a spillover from my freelancing assignments), then business registration and creating my own mini-empire on the farm.

Yes, there was a spell in there (and secretly it always drove me a little nuts) when I’d work one-on-one with friends helping them to create hobby websites that they had no motivation to turn into a little income generator for themselves.

It’s sad really to see the knowledge inside of them that could have been put online to benefit others or to give them a second income - only to be lost to lack of motivation and discipline. Available time has nothing to do with it either since I know full well how many hours they spent in front of the idiot box every night or fretting about being late for their scrapbook meetings while their husbands slaved in the bush all day!

The relationships I didn’t mind developing website for were the ones built for friends who ‘got it’. They understood what an online presence could do for their offline business, that it was practically free advertising, that, if done correctly, could bring multiple repeat buyers into their stores every week.

I love those who have drive and determination to make a success out of themselves. Read the rest »

As mentioned in an earlier article, not everyone can work at home successfully.

• Not because they don’t have the skills.
• Not because they don’t have the contacts.
• Not because they don’t know enough about home business.

None of those reasons actually.

The reasons most often cited by people who simply can’t work at home are highly personal issues. Here are a few I’m used to hearing from friends who say they’d love to work at home, except for…

• the seclusion
• the distractions
• their lack of motivation
• and, for work at home women, the ‘classification’ of being thought of as a ‘housewife’

It’s my opinion that if you want something bad enough, any of these excuses can be challenged and overcome.

Apparently they are being overcome by thousands of women every year! Running a home based business is now one of the fastest growing employment trends in the US and Canada. People just like you and I start out Read the rest »

I’ve just picked up an email from one of my loyal readers…

She thinks she might like to freelance from home - with repeat clients (that’s how I did it and it makes working so much nicer), but doesn’t know what steps to take to get started.

I suppose there are many people who have similar thoughts so I’ve decided to write more about freelancing for a few days. It sure takes my mind off the garage anyway!

First off, apart from shelling out a whopping $7 for a great ebook on the subject (see: Freelancing Online, which will take you to the knowledge and inside information that gets you making money quicker, I’ll write a few tips about my own journey. Read the rest »