Online Business Resources

Question: What is your name?

Answer: Ruth Martin

Question: Can you tell us about your business? Please include the business name, and the website url. How long have you been in business?

Answer: Maplewood Virtual Assistance, http://www.MaplewoodVA.com, provides online business support services to small to mid-size businesses and entrepreneurs with an emphasis on business and project management, marketing and writing services, and administrative/executive support services. I began working virtually in 2000 and formalized the business to become Maplewood Virtual Assistance (aka MaplewoodVA) in 2007.

Question: What made you decide to work from home? Was there a turning point in your life that made you seek being a business owner? Please share your story.

Answer: Prior to becoming a work-at-home mom, I returned from maternity leave with an infant (and all the baby gear) to the management workforce. This worked until my little fella became pretty mobile at 8 months old and then it was time to transition to being a work-at-home mom. In August 2000, my virtual services began as an administrative assistant independent contractor locally for a church and a few weeks later I added a non-profit organization to my client roster. After 7 years of working this way, I formalized the business to a Limited Liability Corporation and went global with online business support services. This path has satisfied my craving for being a stay-at-mom plus nurtured my need for producing business results, has kept me grounded in exceptional customer service, and has provided meaningful, impact outcomes to those I interacted with. I knew working with other like-minded entrepreneurs as their online business manager and ‘go-to’ person would free them to pursue their business goals and put me into a position of working in my strengths all while giving me the freedom to be a hands-on mother to my son.

Question: What is the 1 hurdle that you have had to overcome or are trying to over come at this minute?

Answer: In the early days it took some time to overcome the isolation of being a work-at-home mom. At that time most of my friendship connections were with those I worked with and saw daily. Suddenly, that daily interaction (and support) wasn’t automatically happening unless I was very purposeful in creating personal moments of adult face-to-face time during the work day. I chuckle when I think back at how my husband survived the barrage of conversation thrown at him when he came through the door each evening. I was starved to hear a voice other than baby babble.

As my business evolved and became more internet driven the isolation soon became a distant memory replaced with interactions on forums, social media platforms, Skype conversations, and lunch outings with local friends.

Any last thoughts or comments that you would like our readers to know?
I encourage your readers to take the time to plan their business. There’s such excitement about wanting to just start but without a good foundation there’s little to build and grow on. It needn’t be a formal written plan but needs to be thought out so you have focus and direction and don’t find yourself running full force without a clear concise picture of where you’re headed. Gosh, how will you know when you’re there if you don’t know where you’re headed and the routes to get there?

And secondly, find a mentor, someone you admire, and get to know that person. Follow their business writings/blog, and observe what worked well for them to see if those methods can be incorporated into your business plans. Don’t copy them but use these things to get your own creative juices flowing.

Question: What is your name?

Answer: Julie Vander Pol

Question: Can you tell us about your business? Please include the business name, and the website url. How long have you been in business?

Answer: Remembered Moments and have been in business since 2004.

Question: What made you decide to work from home? Was there a turning point in your life that made you seek being a business owner? Please share your story.

Answer: I have always wanted to work from home and then once we decided to have children I wanted to do that even more.  There was not one specific moment or turning point, I think being an entrepreneur has always been a part of me.

Question: What is the 1 hurdle that you have had to overcome or are trying to over come at this minute?

Answer: making people realize that this is not just a hobby it is a business.  Many people just think it is an extension of my hobby to make a ‘little extra money’; when in fact it is a full fledged business with all of the strings attached (marketing, finances, registrations, licenses, etc.)

An extension of this hurdle is that many people that want to do this don’t think (or want) to register as a business thus undercutting me (and other business owners, and the government) and that is in fact illegal and fraud.

Any last thoughts or comments that you would like our readers to know?
I love my job and love to encourage others to preserve their memories for future generations.

Question: What is your name?

Answer: Caryn Arnim

Question: Can you tell us about your business? Please include the business name, and the website url. How long have you been in business?

Answer: The Polka Dot Monkeys Been in business for just 6 months!

Question: What made you decide to work from home? Was there a turning point in your life that made you seek being a business owner? Please share your story.

Answer: Well, I am a stay at home “nonna” now! I have been wanting to start up a little online business for years and do in home “trunk shows”. I started up The Polka Dot Monkeys with my best friend of 56 years….we have known each other since birth! We really started this up to earn extra money, my friend was in financial stress and I thought we could get things going and help her out a little.
Our area of expertise is anything you can think of can be monogrammed! We carry gifts for anyone you have on your list.
Having this “little” business allows me to keep my grandchildren when needed and allows me to be creative.

I have started up another little side line called “beaucoup baby & kids” .

I design appliqued onesies with matching burp cloths…..and yess I personalize them, too!

Question: What is the 1 hurdle that you have had to overcome or are trying to over come at this minute?

Answer: Exposure….exposure….exposure!

Any last thoughts or comments that you would like our readers to know?
I love what I do now and everyone shop, shop The Polka Dot Monkeys!

Want to be interviewed?

Question: What is your name?

Answer: Jean Myles

Question: Can you tell us about your business? Please include the business name, and the website url.

I am a member of Internet CEO Moms.  I have been with the team for 2 years. My website URL is  Jays Mom Is Home .  I also have a blog  Mommy To Two Boys

We market for a large wellness company that has won several awards with the BBB.  And we help other moms do the same.  I love the training and mentoring other moms.  Helping them reach their goals is so satisfying.

Question: How long have you been in business?

In October of 2006 I had my first son Jaylen.  I was supposed to go back to teaching Kindergarten the next school year, but I really wanted to be home with him without the financial stress.  I decided to work at a daycare and bring him, but I didn’t like the care he was getting, and by the time I paid for his tuition and gas I was making almost nothing!  I realized that something in our life had to change.  We were also going further and further into debt without even thinking about putting away money for our futures and our sons’ educations.

Jaylen was diagnosed with Autism shortly after turning 1 and it is great that I can work around his therapy schedules.  In fact, there is no way I could work out of the home and give him the care he really needs.  There are times, especially now with two and with Jaylen’s special needs, that building this business has not been easy, but I honestly can’t think of doing anything differently.  I am so proud knowing that I will soon be at my goal of replacing my teaching income, all while being home with my family.  We welcomed our second son, Xavier, in November of 2008 and I just love that I can work at home alongside my two boys.

We’ve been able to pay off almost all of our debt and put some money away, and the best part is that I am helping other mothers to do the same!

Question: What made you decide to work from home? Was there a turning point in your life that made you seek being a business owner? Please share your story.

My son’s special needs make it hard to find time to work.  I stick to my business hours daily, but his breakdowns and need for almost constant attention make it hard.

Question: What is the 1 hurdle that you have had to overcome or are trying to over come at this minute?

Any last thoughts or comments that you would like our readers to know?
Perseverance.  Don’t give up.  There have been times I have thought about giving up.  But I visualize where I want to be, and then take daily action to get there.

Have a good why, a reason for doing what you do. The thought of not being able to give my son the care he needs is my daily motivation.

Want to be interviewed?

Question: What is your name?

Answer: Tracy Zdelar

Question: Can you tell us about your business? Please include the business name, and the website url. How long have you been in business?

Answer: I’m a mom-blogger,wahm promoter and affiliate marketer at http://www.HallofFameMoms.com …I also review products from any family-friendly company. I’ve been blogging a little over a year. I also specialize in social networking/marketing on Facebook and Twitter.

Question: What made you decide to work from home? Was there a turning point in your life that made you seek being a business owner? Please share your story.

Answer: I wanted to stay home with my kids. I knew I could make some income getting involved with online marketing but its been a journey of winding roads up to this point where I am happily settled in a niche. The journey isn’t over though…who knows where it will end!

Question: What is the 1 hurdle that you have had to overcome or are trying to over come at this minute?

Answer: My biggest hurdle may have been the “technical” kind…learning how to blog, navigating html and WordPress, learning the lingo…etc.. I’ve come a long way for sure.

Any last thoughts or comments that you would like our readers to know?

Getting some business coaching helped me find the direction and settle into the niche I’m in right now. This is where I’m most comfortable for the time being.

Want to be interviewed?