The Day I Gave Up On Working From Home

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I want to share how I got started working from home because I get asked this question a lot and I want you to know that things don't always work out exactly as planned. So don't give up! You just have to seize the opportunity when it presents itself.

The Struggle...

So way back between 2002-2004, I remember searching online for work from home jobs and wanting to rage-flip my computer! All I would ever find were pyramid schemes, questionable side hustles, obvious scams, and the like. I even asked around through family, friends, and coworkers but no one knew of anything.

I eventually gave up which left me feeling some type of way let me tell you! I was so OVER missing time with family. Struggling with my son's illness. Paying for terrible yet overpriced daycare and long expensive commutes. All because the bulk of my time was spent working crappy jobs that barely kept us afloat.

I'm pretty sure you can relate which is another reason why I'm sharing my story. So you can know there's light at the end of the tunnel, as long as you keep moving forward. Now, back to my journey... 

One day I decided to apply for a call center job because I figured it had to be better than dealing with outrageous customers in person. Plus the pay was above average at the time, so I felt like I was finally making some type of headway.

Well, our finances were better but I still had the same struggles I mentioned before. And since the call volume was so high, I dealt with way more outrageous customers over the phone than I ever did in person.

I was like... Really universe? Are you serious right now? I'm done.

The Call...

Then after a few months into my job, when I was just about at my limit, I got a call from a customer who mentioned she worked from home. I tell you, I think I heard the angels sing that day!

I was a tech support agent at the time, which is how the information came about. She needed help getting back online because she was in the middle of her shift. So instead of using the standard small talk about the weather, I asked if she wouldn't mind telling me what she does. I just couldn't let this chance pass me by!!

She was kind enough to share some details and even provided the name of the company. It was Working Solutions if you would like to check them out.

The company offers work-from-home positions primarily in customer service, sales, and tech support. Established in 1996, Working Solutions was one of the pioneers in the remote work industry. They operate across the United States and Canada, providing flexible, independent contractor positions that allow agents to set their own hours and choose their clients.

Now to say that I was about ready to do backflips out of my chair is an understatement!! I couldn't wait to get back home to look into it. And that's exactly what I did that evening and I applied the very next day.

The Wins...

When I heard back from them about a week later with an invite to interview, I ran to my family like a nutcase, squealing the good news! I don't know how they understood me. 😂

Needless to say, I was hired! I put in my two weeks' notice with my call center job and never looked back since 2004. It was one of the BEST decisions I ever made! Working from home has afforded me so much freedom and opportunity that I'm grateful for every day. For instance...

• I have an abundance of time with my family.

• I was able to properly care for my eldest who has a chronic illness.

• I was able to homeschool my youngest with ease.

• Childcare and transportation costs/issues were no longer a thing.

• I was able to move multiple times without losing my job.

• I was able to become a first-time homeowner, yay me!

• I save way more money each month

• I have time to grow my online business.

The list goes on and on and on! Now it wasn't all roses and rainbows at first... There were a few nuances that came with working from home I wasn't aware of and I had no one to turn to for help. However, I learned through trial and error along the way.

RELATED CONTENT:

• Balancing Remote Work and Motherhood

• Work From Home Questions And Answers

Thankfully I eventually found an online community focused on working from home, which became my saving grace. Sadly, they're not around anymore but they were part of my inspiration for the online resources I created to help others.

The Remote Ready Workbook is one of them! 👇🏽

So I hope my story inspires you to keep at it if you truly want to work from home. It's absolutely possible and MUCH easier to accomplish nowadays. Plus this kind of positive change is long overdue and more people are starting to become aware of that fact thankfully.