When I started to look for a work at home career (nearly ten years ago) I was admittedly drawn to the ads that say such things as, “make $1000 per month…in your sleep”, or “ground floor opportunity, get in now and make millions”.
Can you imagine going to bed one evening and waking up with a $1000 check in the mailbox? It sounds just about as good as the ads that suggest you’ll lose 20 inches in 20 days.
Well, I hate to break it to you…but I’ve never lost 20 inches in less than a month, and I’ve never earned $1000 dollars while sleeping.
Prior to my work-at-home job, I was a social worker. If I say so myself, I firmly believe that it is one of the lowest paying, toughest, and least-respected jobs out there. I spent my days interviewing abused children and dealing with people who loved to insult me, swear at me and even threaten my life. It wasn’t fun, and I never expected to make good money doing it. That being said, after a ten hour day, I slept good knowing that I’d made money for my family and (hopefully) a difference in the lives of others.
If you have just started searching for the “perfect” work at home job, you’ve probably been enticed by those ads. Who wouldn’t be? I was.
Ironically, if I’ve learned anything about having a home business, it is that it is actually *harder* than a traditional career. I never thought I would see the day where I would say that my work at home job was more difficult than my career in social work. No one spits at me. No one swears at me and no one threatens my life anymore. That being said, I don’t have a regular paycheck, I don’t get vacation time and I often have to work twice as hard to earn the same amount of money.
I don’t think my situation is unusual. Go ahead and ask anyone who has been working from home for five years and they will tell you that those “get rich quick” ads you always see are laughable.
At best, you’ll “get rich slow”…but you’ll be able to spend more time with your family, have a bit more freedom and (hopefully) love what you do. Frankly, that’s worth making $1000 in my sleep!
What do you think of the “get rich quick” schemes? Have you been enticed by them? Tell us about it in the comments section.
Related Reading:
The Top 6 Myths About Home Businesses
Bear With Me…Just a Short Vent About Some People’s Mentality