|
Imagine having the opportunity to earn an income and pursue a rewarding career while still having the freedom to raise children without daycare......
by Dawn Veselka
Imagine having the opportunity to earn an income and pursue a rewarding career while still having the freedom to raise children without daycare. This is exactly the dream I had two years ago when faced with the decision of whether to return to my full-time career as a radiation therapist. I chose to become a ‘Mompreneur’ and what a ride it has been! These days, it seems a lot of moms are choosing to explore small business ownership instead of returning to the workforce. Maybe it’s because, like me, after one or two years of being a stay-at-home mom, they start to ask “is this it?”. Before Dennis and I had Sadie, I had a rewarding career that kept me intellectually stimulated and socially interactive. After Sadie, it felt like those two important aspects of my life (my brain and my social life) went out the window. I wanted to earn extra money without being tied to a nine-to-five job that would put Sadie in full-time daycare. I wanted to do something worthwhile, I wanted to meet interesting people, and I wanted to do something challenging and exciting. Thus, the idea for Out of the Blue Delivered was born. My online gift delivery service is the ideal business for me and has helped me to scratch that professional itch in ways I could not have anticipated. I love what I do. In my former career at Florida Hospital, I saw so many people struggle to find ways to convey their concern for loved ones struggling with cancer. Many times, flowers or fruit just weren’t the best gift option and they faded so quickly. I wanted to give people options for lasting gifts that could not only be beautiful, but useful as well. Out of the Blue offers an online inventory of hundreds of unique gifts that wow people in the best and worst of times. I get so much satisfaction out of knowing that when people receive their pretty blue box containing the perfect gift, it not only makes their day, but the giver’s day as well. The other reason why Out of the Blue is the ideal business for me is that being web-based, my clients can shop anytime from anywhere without needing me to service them directly. I have total flexibility with my day. While this sounds like professional heaven, I will confess to working many, many hours at night. It can be really tough to strike a balance between work and Sadie and Dennis. In fact, I’ll readily confess that being a mompreneur isn’t always easy. Sometimes I feel like I’m jumping in out and out of home stuff, mom stuff, and work stuff at light speed and it can feel a little overwhelming. Sometimes worries about profit can make me want to throw in the towel. Sometimes I become so filled with self-doubt that I can become completely immobilized. And then some days everything happens effortlessly and I meet a great person or I get some great advice and everything feels do-able again. I won’t lie to you; it’s a roller coaster ride with lots of peeks and valleys. So, my advice to would-be mompreneurs is this: find something that you absolutely love and believe in. You have to have your heart in it in order to get through the tough days. Keep your overhead as low as possible and make sure your souse is 1000% supportive. And lastly, seek out all available resources. You won’t believe how many great support groups are out there such as S.C.O.R.E. Being a mompreneur is a lifestyle that doesn’t necessarily work for everyone, but it works for me. I love what I do and the difference I make. I love that I still get to keep Sadie as my top priority. But most of all, I love that I am teaching my little girl independence, ingenuity and dedication. While being a mompreneur might not be the easiest gig going, it certainly is the most rewarding for me. _________________________ Dawn Veselka is the owner of Out of the Blue Delivered, a local web-based gift delivery service specializing in unique gifts for extraordinary giving events. www.BlueDelivered.com
