As a work-from-home mom, I come across useful business advice now and then. Recently, I saw an interesting interview with Elon Musk. Everyone has heard of his name, as have I, but I didn’t know much about what he actually did.
And to answer your question, yes. I do live under a rock.
Anywho…
When I saw this interview, I was curious. Who is this guy and what is he really about? I decided to watch the interview, and I’m glad that I did. This interview made me appreciate the hard work that goes into growing a large business, and as a work-from-home mom, I could relate to a lot of what he had to say.
If you’re a work-from-home parent, you will probably relate too!
Work Super Hard.
“If you are starting a company, work every waking hour.”
As a work-from-home mom, I definitely know what it is like to “work every waking hour.”
From working on my business to homeschooling two kids, raising one toddler, and handling household chores like cooking and cleaning—it’s definitely more than your average nine-to-five—and this constant pace is absolutely necessary if I want to make it as a work-from-home mom.
Elon Musk suggests working 80-100 hours a week. How does the average work-from-home mom measure up? 5:30am-10:30pm. That’s my norm. That’s 17 hours a day. If I only count Monday-Friday, that’s 82 hours a week. Looks like I hit the mark, and I’m sure many other work-from-home moms do too!
Have a High Pain Tolerance.
“Starting a company is like eating glass and staring into the abyss.”
Making the decision to work from home with my kids is one of the best choices I have made. Even so, I’ve definitely had to develop a high pain tolerance. Not only are there the usual ups and downs of doing contract work—fluctuating work availability, learning new clients, dealing with rejection—there are the demands of motherhood.
High pain tolerance? Yeah. A work-from-home mom will develop this out of necessity. Despite the days that feel like you’re “eating glass and staring into the abyss,” you have the happiness of being there for your kids, which makes it all worth it. It might take some time, but with perseverance and patience, you will get stronger!
Give Back to Society.
“Do a small amount of good for a large amount of people.”
I like this idea. I might not have some big contribution to make to society, but small things add up. I appreciate that by doing the work I do as a content writer, I help other businesses succeed, hire employees, and put food on the table of many families. More importantly, the best way I can give back to society is to raise three well-rounded boys who will add something of value to this world.
Take Risks.
“Be less risk averse when there is not much at risk.”
As a work-from-home mom, I definitely feel like there is a lot at stake. However, if I were too risk averse, I would not have taken the leap to begin working from home in the first place. I knew the odds of success were limited, but I dove into it head-first without looking back. There have been some frightening times for sure, but the risk has been well worth the reward.
Do Something Better Than Everyone Else.
“Your product or service must be much better than theirs. It can’t be just slightly better.”
It is recommended that content writers have a well-developed niche, and that makes sense. You need to stand out within this highly competitive field. Does being a “Jill of all trades” count?
I suppose if I had to pinpoint an area of expertise that I do very well, it would be adaptability. I love writing for a broad range of clients and learning new things. Customers have appreciated that I can take a topic I know nothing about and write about it like I’m an expert. Being a quick study and knowing how to condense large ideas into digestible tidbits is a useful skill, so I suppose that is my niche.
Attract Great People.
“Do everything you can to gather great people.”
Working with great clients is a must! I’ve made the mistake of trying to accommodate unrealistic expectations, low-paying jobs, and bad attitudes. It didn’t take long for me to learn better. Now, I am careful about who I work with. I love working with clients that care about the work they do, provide honest services for their customers, and offer the guidance and support I need to do my job well!
Seek Criticism Constantly.
“A well thought out critique of whatever you are doing is as valuable as gold.”
So true. As a content writer, I highly value genuine critiques of my work. Every client is slightly different, so I have to be able to adjust my writing style accordingly. I can’t do this if I’m not receiving feedback. Constructive criticism also helps me to improve my writing abilities in general, and that’s always a good thing!
Don’t Follow the Trends.
“Does this really make sense or is this just what everyone else is doing?”
Boy, can I relate! I know that non-working mothers have a hard job—kids are full-time work—but when you add a 20+ hour work week to the mix, you have to get creative. I used to compare my life to other mothers who did not have to work and I felt like a failure. It’s just not realistic or fair. Instead of looking at what other people are doing or what others expect from you, find what works for you and go for it.
Overcome Critics.
“When critics say you can’t do this, what do you say?” “We’ve done it.”
I can’t list the number of times people questioned my ability to work from home and homeschool my kids at the same time. Now, after a few years of success, I can say, “we’ve done it.” Sure, there were plenty of obstacles to overcome, like making a WFH mom schedule, but we kept pushing through as a family and we are making it work. Better than that. We enjoy doing life together, and I’m so glad I did not listen to the nay-sayers!
As a work-from-home mom, you might never start the next big company, but you still work as if you will! You have a hard job, and one that will pay off big time because you’re not just running a business. You’re raising the next generation.
Are you interested in watching the Elon Musk interview? Check it out here.
