http://theselfemployedmom.com Welcome to the virtual home of the self-employed mom! Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:19:02 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en One of the important things I’ve learned about running a business is that good customer service should extend through the entire life of a project, and is just as important (or even more so) when wrapping things up. An article on the U.S. Small Business Administration’s web site, SBA.gov, reports that ... http://theselfemployedmom.com/archives/tying-up-lose-ends/ Last week I deleted a proverbial “stack” of email from my computer going back as far as 2002. I couldn’t resist reading through my old messages nostalgically, kind of like I do when I rifle through old photos and birthday cards. I think what surprised me most is that my client ... http://theselfemployedmom.com/archives/revisiting-email-from-clients-past/ Last week I received a copy of a new book titled, I Brake for Meltdowns: How to Handle the Most Exasperating Behavior of Your 2- to 5-year-old by Michelle Nicholasen and Barbara O'Neil. The book is due out on the shelves on July 15th, so it was kind of neat to ... http://theselfemployedmom.com/archives/i-brake-for-meltdowns/ In January 2007, my husband and I downsized our vehicle from a minivan that guzzled about a gallon of gas per 15 miles, to a small sedan that goes a little more than twice that distance on the same gallon of gas. This change made me happy. I’d done something, however ... http://theselfemployedmom.com/archives/the-environmental-perks-of-working-from-home/ I don’t write often of politics, but it hasn’t escaped my attention that there are two very prominent working mothers in the news lately, Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama. Even though I favor Hillary in the race, I have more of an affinity with Michelle Obama. After all, Chelsea Clinton is ... http://theselfemployedmom.com/archives/mothers-work-and-the-white-house/ It’s almost impossible to overlook the signs that the U.S. is falling into a recession. From the 0.6 percent drop in purchases in February, as reported on Bloomberg.com, to the 63,000 job losses last month, tough times appear imminent. For me, the recession has become distinctly personal as my own inner ... http://theselfemployedmom.com/archives/finding-a-job-in-a-down-economy/ When I was six years old my father worked as an auto mechanic at a place called Check Car Care Center on Long Island. To this day I remember the striped shirt he wore and how I loved that it bore an oval with his name inside. I remember the ... http://theselfemployedmom.com/archives/when-work-is-intangible-how-can-kids-learn-its-value/ Sometimes I think about what my life would be like if my husband and I both worked outside the home and made consistent salaries, with full benefits and a steady chunk of income set aside for a 401(k). It’s tempting to daydream about that path, and how much greener the ... http://theselfemployedmom.com/archives/getting-by-on-one-income-%e2%80%93-the-tradeoff-for-family-life/ Last week I broke away from my hectic schedule to get a much needed haircut, something I only do these days when I have a big meeting or event coming up. I also snuck out to the store and bought some new clothes to replace the sweatpants and t-shirts I’ve ... http://theselfemployedmom.com/archives/take-care-of-yourself/ by Jacqueline Dooley For me, the biggest benefit of self-employment is choice. It beats flexibility, money, challenging work and even success. I cherish my ability to choose, among other things, how I work, when I work, who I work with and when I come and go. There are a few pivotal moments ... http://theselfemployedmom.com/archives/freedom-to-choose-is-top-advantage-of-own-firm/