By Christy Schutz

Telecommuters have a myriad of different reasons they enjoy their work from home status. The biggest benefit is obviously the flexibility it offers… and for parents, this is a big plus. But, what if your kids have left or are in the process of leaving your home for college, military service, adult life, etc? What is the best way to navigate this tricky transitional time (sometimes coined as the “empty nest syndrome”) as a work at home professional?

I am wrestling with this issue personally as I prepare for my 19-year old son to leave for the Navy tomorrow. I have had the advantage of working from home since 2005, so, for the last 8 years or so, I have had a lot of wonderful opportunities to stay involved with his life. Now I wonder… will it be easier or harder for me to make this transition? (more…)

By Kimberly Rae

I have lived in several different countries, traveled the world, attempted with varying degrees of success to learn a few languages, and loved my big life plans for doing significant things.

But I was sick, and over the years, the sickness got worse until finally I had to admit that I could not keep up with my own goals. I got diagnosed with Addison’s disease, along with a few other health conditions including asthma and hypoglycemia. We came back to the US where I could get the medicine that keeps me alive and keeps me going, though at a much slower rate than I ever expected to live. (more…)

By Kirsten Hendrich

Starting a business from home may seem like a daunting task. While it certainly isn’t effortless, becoming self-employed is often much easier than most imagine. Of course, it takes careful planning, persistence, a unique skill, and a large time investment, but when you can find a way to turn a passion into a creative business, the work hardly seems like work at all. Plus, the Internet has made starting a home business easier than ever. It can now be done with limited capital, few resources, and no inventory. But perhaps best of all, small business owners today have the opportunity to reach out to customers across the globe without ever leaving the comfort of their homes.

Here’s how to start a creative home business:

Find Your Niche

Success in the business world depends upon the ability to carve out a unique niche in the marketplace.  To do this, you need to narrow in on a particular customer demographic, and offer them something they can’t find elsewhere.  This can be a matter of style, of the particular product or service you sell, or even the attitude with which you market yourself.  In any case, the first step in starting a business is determining what makes you special and locating the customers who value that uniqueness. (more…)

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your entrepreneurial journey.

I’ve been a world traveler my whole life. I remember as a kid thinking that no matter what kind of job I was to have, that it would allow me to explore the world. I met a really cool teacher in high school and she ended up moving to Spain to live and teach there. That really influenced me to go to college to become a teacher.

Right after I graduated college I went overseas. I haven’t looked back since. Within 6 years I’ve lived in Australia, South Korea, and China. After that, I thought the natural progression was to move back to the states to ‘settle down’ with my husband.

I wasn’t happy. It isn’t that the US had nothing to offer me, but I knew that being in one place wasn’t the lifestyle for me. I had been doing some freelance photography work but never took it seriously, and it definitely didn’t pay the bills. It took me a long time to reflect on what I wanted as a career. I discovered freelance writing blogs quite by accident, and realized that this type of career would allow me the flexibility and location independence I so longed for. I never thought in a million years I would start my own business. But here I am. (more…)

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your entrepreneurial journey.

I’ve always been an artistic person, ever since I was a little girl. When college came around I did the only thing that really made sense to me, I went to art school. In January of 2010, my husband Alex and I started having photo shoots here and there with our friends and family. Turned out we were pretty good at it and we’ve had LewChan Photography as a side business ever since (we both also had full time jobs).

Then in September of 2012 I gave birth to the most perfect baby girl there ever was. I struggled with the idea of leaving her in the care of someone else once my maternity leave was over. In January 2013 I made the heartbreaking transition of going back to work after baby and did so for 6 weeks until I was laid off. It was a blessing. I’m now home full time with my daughter and am working on getting our photography business off the ground. I also do freelance graphic design and write about 3-4 times a week in a blog I’ve had since February 2007. It’s called cappuccinochitchat.com… you should pay me a visit sometime (more…)