A question for working-mums everywhere:

Are you in the same situation that Stella Green was in two years ago?

Stella Green quit working in advertising sales two years ago and started to work from home as a freelance telephone operator. She was working a 50 hour week in her former office based job and the commute back and forth to the office was taking an additional 10-15 hours per week. Stella was highly stressed, neglecting her family, exhausted and tired of office politics, nasty colleagues and unacceptable working conditions when she made her decision to quit. Nowadays Stella works from home as a freelance Marketing Consultant and Telesales Operator.

Stella agreed to be interviewed because she wanted to offer her tips to other home based Telephone Sales Operators but also because she wanted to reach other working-mums in the “rat race of advertising sales” and assure them that there's a much better alternative. Two years after quitting her position Stella is making better money and working half the hours. She is no longer neglecting her family or exhausted and the gruelling office commute and office politics are things of the past.

Question: How did you find work as a Freelance Telephone Sales Operator? How much does it pay?

Answer: There are good jobs to be had. I found my most lucrative by searching the internet. I searched terms like “home based telephone operators” “telephone marketing companies”. Typically the companies I found paid anything from £6 - £14 per hour. Others paid commission only or a fee per lead generated. I know some people would go for the hourly rate but I much prefer commission only and payment per lead as its sets no ceiling on my earnings.

I also approached companies for work directly. Lots of small and medium sized companies don't have and can't afford full-time sales staff themselves. Also, although they might know all about their product or service, they often don't know how to sell themselves or are too tied down with existing work to do so. It took some time but now I have ongoing contracts with small, local publications to sell advertising space and work on ad hoc projects for several PR and Creative agencies. I am paid £50-150 per substantiated lead.

Q: How does the Home Working Environment compare to that of the Office?

A: There is no comparison! I don't miss anything about working for someone else. I particularly don't miss the daily travel to and from work and the long hours but there are many other advantages to working from home. For a start I'm always on hand to look after my daughter and I'm able to keep up to date with my housework - two years ago both were neglected nut I was too stressed to realise and too tired to be bothered. The one drawback (that I've since learnt to put right) is lack of exercise. To overcome that I go for a long work every morning. While others sit in traffic jams or wait for their bus, I'm walking through woods and fields, taking in the fresh air, staying trim and thinking about the work I've scheduled for that day.

Q: How many hours do you work? How does the pay compare with your previous employment?

A: I don't have any set hours. At first, while I was looking for work and contracts, I worked 60 hours per week but things have settled down now. Even when I did it was less exhausting than my previous work - and I did some housework while I was at work! In a typical week I work Monday afternoons and Friday mornings and both mornings and afternoons Tuesday through Thursday. This equates to 22 hours per week and pays more than double what I was earning full time in advertising sales.

Q: How do you stay motivated?

A: That's easy! I just remember what life was like a couple of years ago. I also only work for companies I have confidence in and enjoy helping. I work never work selling or marketing products and services that I didn't feel happy with. For instance, I only sell advertising that I believe will work for people and if I had any doubt about a company's ability to deliver a product or service I wouldn't work for them. In the past, selling advertising that had underperformed was very de-motivating for me. Also, I motivate myself by setting myself targets and having in mind what I'll spend any amount made over and above my target. Topping up my daughter's university fund motivates me.

Q: What to you do on a typical day and how much do you earn?

A: I can make anything up to 100 calls in a typical full day. Sales is about finding people who are in the market for what you are offering them and it is quick and easy to find out what (if anything) a company is in the market for or when they will be in the market for it. I target companies that appear likely candidates and convert about 10%. Another 10-20% of the calls I make throw up future opportunities so these are scheduled for call backs. I decide that up to 80% of the companies I contact on a typical day are not worth pursuing. I make anything up to £400 per day.

Q: What skills do people need to do similar work? Have you any tips for would-be freelance telephone sales operators?

A: At least average sales skills. Success is about being able to recognise opportunities. You need to be able to put yourself in the position of the company you are contacting and conclude which (if any) products or services (you are selling) will be of interest to them. For instance, if I'm generating leads for website designers I consider how a website could be used to increase their sales, improve business efficiency, promote their brands and improve their image.

At least average communication skills: You need to be able to talk to people - from receptionists through to managing directors and to efficiently communicate what you need to about your product or service. You need to be able to ask all the right questions - who, when, what, why and how - listen to and record the answers. You need to be able to quickly assess a company's needs and offer relevant solutions. To be really successful you have all this plus the ability to make people enjoy talking to you. You are more likely to achieve this if you yourself enjoy talking to people and have a genuine interest in them and what they (or their company) do. You really don't need to be smarmy and ingratiating!

You'll also need some computer skills and experience of using databases. Some companies I work for supply databases and install software on the computers of their home-workers. I use Microsoft Outlook, Excel and Word.

Q: What equipment and facilities do you need to set up as a freelance telephone sales operator? What are the costs involved?

A: Ideally you need a fully equipped home-office. You at least need a room at home that can double up as one. You need a PC with internet connection - broadband is almost essential as you will work better if you can stay online while making calls. There are many telephone packages that give you unlimited calls to landlines, some throw in broadband connection too. Currently (based in the UK, as at July 2008) I pay about £40 per month for all - and this includes 6 hours per month of unlimited international calls.

Q: Do you have any regrets? Would you have done anything differently?

A: My biggest regret is that I didn't start doing this much earlier. Also, I came to my decision to quit without anything in place. If I had my time again I'd have started ten years ago. I also would have had at least a couple of clients in place. The important thing is that I'm doing it now. I couldn't go on in my old job a moment longer - unemployment would have been preferable! I'm sure other working mothers are in similar situations. I hope my story will offer hope to working-mums everywhere.

Q: Could you recommend any reading material for working-mums (or others) thinking of quitting their jobs to work in the same field (or others)?

A: Covey's Seven Habits was an excellent read.

Are you a successful, self-employed working mother? Please tell our readers something about your work and how you fit it in with family life in the comments below. We would be grateful for any ideas, advice and tips you could offer working-mums who are considering becoming self-employed. Please send a link to this article to working-mums everywhere.

About a month ago, I became aware of this new drug called Salvinorum A, which is the main, psychoactive ingredient in Salvia Divinorum, an ancient healing plant from Mexico. If you go on YouTube and do a search for “Salvia”, you will see many different videos containing the usage of, or information pertaining to Salvia and its wicked ways. A lot of people tend to be abusing this drug, and unfortunately, raising the wrong type of awareness toward it.

Anyway, after watching people “trip out” on this stuff, I just had to get some and try it for myself. Salvia, as you know, is still legal in 45 of the 50 states, including Washington State where I happen to live. You can buy it at the local smoke shops and head shops for around $20 to $30 per gram depending on its strength. Which got me thinking, could I sell my own Salvia and make money? The answer was YES!

I found a couple of different places online that sell various potencies of Salvia for as little as $5 a gram (in bulk), including the price of shipping if you order a minimum of 10 grams. So, I approached a couple of shops in the area and asked about becoming a Salvia supplier for their shop. One shop in particular was VERY interested and was ready to buy up some serious quantity. The other shop was more of the “tobacco” friendly smoke shop and wanted no part of this sacred hallucinogen.

To make a long story short, I now supply Salvia to the local head shop here, and have a deal with them to continue supplying Salvia to them for the next year. Judging from the amount of Salvia being purchased and sold from these guys, I may actually be able to stay at home, and bring in the income I desire. I love my new job!

Your Personal Finances

Personal Credit

Regardless if you are a Sole Proprietor, Corporation, LLC, etc, the bank will want to look at your personal credit. Pull your credit report and order your credit scores as well. If your credit scores are 650 or under, then it may be best to do some clean-up of your personal credit before continuing. Or, you may include a letter explaining why these occurrences happened and why it won't happen again.

Personal Income

The lenders will want to know where your personal income will come from while you're operating your business. Will your sole income come from the new business or will you work full or part-time while starting your business? The lenders will also want to know how you plan to transition from working for someone else to being self-employed, if that is your plan.

Personal Assets

The assets you own are very important as they may be looked at as potential collateral for the loan. Some companies can provide a business equity line of credit, which will use equity in your home as collateral, while establishing credit in the business name. The lenders also see assets as potential sources of cash to cover you in rough times.

Personal Liabilities

This is how much debt you owe, including mortgages, credit cards, loans, etc. Get your debt level down. In regards to credit card debt, a good rule of thumb is to have no more than one-third of your available credit outstanding.

The Business Plan

This is the time to really sell yourself and your business. Your plan must be complete and presented very professionally. The executive summary should comprise the first few pages and should be very professional. Recruit someone to help you if you need to. The Small Business Administration (SBA) has some sample business plans that are very helpful.

Be sure to detail what product or service the business will provide and what sets your business apart from competing businesses, how will the business make a profit and how much profit is expected per transaction, how many transactions do you expect per month. Show any demographic information you may have about the area you'll be providing services to. (How much traffic will pass by your location? How much demand is there for your product/service? What is your target audience and what percentage of the population will your business serve?)

When projecting the revenue, profits and costs for the company, you'll want to think at least 24 to 36 months ahead and break everything down on a monthly basis. Include your payment schedules for your lease, utility costs, loan repayment, etc. Also include a contingency plan detailing how you will handle any shortfalls that may occur for a month or longer.

Experience

Another piece of your business plan should include your experience level. How familiar are you with the industry you've chosen? Do you have previous ownership or management experience? Your chances are better if you have some experience working the industry you've chosen. If you have no related experience, add working skills that you have gained that apply to the business.

SBA Myths

The SBA provides loans to small businesses: False.

The SBA works as a guarantor of loans made by other banking institutions. If you contact their offices, they will simply offer advice on finding a lender.

Here is an example of one way they will help a small business: If you go to a bank requesting $25,000, the bank will see if they can approve the full loan amount for you. If not, they will seek to qualify you for SBA backing. One possible scenario is that the bank will cover 50% of the loan, while the SBA acts as guarantor on 40% of the loan, and you will be responsible for coming up with 10%.

The SBA will help if you have bad credit: False.

The credit requirements for SBA eligibility are the same as most banking institutions. The SBA is simply there to assist with new businesses or young businesses with very little time established.

Other Loan Options

If you are unable to obtain a business loan, be sure to ask why they declined you. Their response may provide hints to changes that can be made to your business plan. Take a step back and see what adjustments you can make, and then try another lender. Try applying at large banks and at small community banks.

If you are unable to get approved for a business loan after several attempts, you may wish to consider other loan options. Using a personal loan, such as a home equity line or loan may be helpful to get you started. Once your business is more established, then return to the lenders and show them what your business is doing.

An entrepreneur could be the original thinker of an idea or an invention and delegate the organizing and managing to someone else.

One who puts a large amount of money into a business and does nothing except sit back and reap the rewards is a risk-taking entrepreneur.

All these words, organizes, manages, assumes risks, have a common denominator. They are all verbs, words of action. This is the meat and potatoes of all entrepreneurs. Add words such as dedicated, impassioned, creative, and fearless to produce men such as Donald Trump and Bill Gates.

Entrepreneurs aren't necessarily millionaires, most live quiet lives, perfectly happy with their small endeavor. They had a hobby or a dream and turned it into profit be it big or small. Remember Famous Amos? He started making cookies in his kitchen at home giving his now famous cookies to family and friends. He employed the perfect marketing concept.

If you want to become an entrepreneur, marketing research is very important before you jump in with both feet. Take your idea, product or business concept to family and friends. Suppose there is an abandoned building in your neighborhood and you would like to open a restaurant.. A good research tool is sending questionnaires through the mail or hand out flyers asking would people like a restaurant in that area. Ask why the building is abandoned. Why did it fail?

Large corporations are always looking for ideas. Send your idea to the marketing research department. Always, always get a patent on your ideas before distributing them to the general public. You can call the U.S. Patent Dept for information on how to patent an idea. There is a lot of information on the Internet also, just type in the word patent to do the search. The Internet can also be used to network with other Entrepreneurs. Many clubs and organizations have been formed for the purpose of sharing information.

There are many tools you can use to get started. Entrepreneur, Inc. is a magazine full of tips and ideas for the beginner. Your local library can be helpful with books on starting a business. Talk to other businessmen/women in your area, they are always willing to tell you their story.

In conclusion, it is a good idea to hire a business lawyer. You don't want to inadvertently break any laws, or be sued simply because you didn't have the right information. Then go for it! Remember, action is the word associated with entrepreneurs. Your dream can come true. The trick is to be informed, not clueless, cautious, but not fearful.

If they have customers and/or clients such as consultants, then these customers and/or clients can write testimonials for them and/or letters of reference.

However, for many self-employed, such as those who work in affiliate marketing online, how to build credentials as business professionals and/or as creative professionals?

An important manner of doing so is writing articles. The article market online is a market that helps to build credentials and many article markets help writers and business professionals to achieve "expert status."

Let's say you're an affiliate of a jewelry store. Suppose a client wants to know your credentials, whether you're trying to get the customer to buy from your jewelry store, your jewelry affiliate website, etc.

You can write articles about jewelry, the history of jewelry, how to appraise jewelry, and/or articles on shopping for jewelry. These can include links to your store, etc.

Maintain a portfolio of these articles, and when customers might want your credentials, then this portfolio can help to build credentials that you are an "expert" on jewelry, and not just an affiliate salesperson.

You can also start a jewelry newsletter and/or emagazine in which your expertise and the expertise of others who know jewelry can be included in these articles. If your newsletter is successful, then you might consider becoming the editor of the print version of the magazine. You are the founder and the editor. You can show your clients your magazine.

You can also become an expert consultant with companies, sending your brochures to them. If any of these companies agree to hire you as a consultant, then this goes into your resume, this list of companies.

You can write books and ebooklets on jewelry to help build your resume. You can collaborate on these books with other experts in jewelry. You can write books on different types of jewelry, like vintage jewelry and art jewelry.

You can take workshops and classes in jewelry making and in jewelry history and/or in certain types of jewelry such as African jewelry and/or Native American jewelry. These workshops and classes can also be including in your resume.

These are some of the ways in which the online self-employed can build a resume and credentials.