A friend just called and asked me a question, “I am on maternity leave and just found out I am laid off so I am going to pursue my dream of working from home! Where should my focus be?”—Sue in New Mommyland
First of all, congratulations! I wished I was laid off when I was pregnant! Why? Because you have just landed yourself into the perfect position to see if running a home business is right for you. Aren’t following me? Read on …
1. You have just been given a lifeline
Being laid off means you will at least get to collect unemployment, and at the most receive a healthy severance. Of course there are some circumstances in which neither is a very good option, and you must continue to look for another job while pregnant.
But if you have had dreams of being a business owner, NOW is the time to take that leap of faith and get started. You have extra time, you have at least some income—and nearly all home based business owners could only dream of this kind of kick-start to a business!
2. Keep your legal ‘Tush’ covered
There are some pretty strict laws in place around workplace discrimination. You may or may not have a lawsuit on your hands. It is indeed legal for a company to lay off pregnant women, as long as the pregnancy played no part in the decision to end the employment.
Personally, this is legal ground I know very little about. For US workers, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or a good Employment Law Attorney is going to be your best source of information on this topic. (Other countries have different, and sometimes more family-friendly laws in place).
3. Start to dream BIG
Home businesses work best when you are doing something you are truly passionate about. The best question to ask of yourself right now is, “If failure were impossible, and success was guaranteed, what kind of business would I want to run?”
Entrepreneurship is a long time commitment—depending on your choice, you might not see income for 6 months to a year. Freelance work is a lucrative option if you have specialized skills people want such as design, writing, and web development. This kind of work can also pay off more quickly than building a business from scratch.
4. Put together a business plan
Whether you are building an empire or seeking a few extra bucks a month, a business plan will get you started on the right track.
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