Did I dream of having it all – a fulfilling family life, an interesting job, living in a place I loved? Of course – don’t we all? But how often does that really happen? These things don’t “just happen.” We have to make them happen. It takes dedication, hard work and knowing where you want to go and how to get there. And a bit of good fortune from Above, too.
For a while, it didn’t look like I’d ever get there. Professionally, I’d made it – I’d worked for one of the largest law firms in the world, I’d argued cases in Courts of Appeal, I’d published a novel, I’d been a newspaper editor. But I didn’t have any of the three things listed above. So I traded it all in to have a family and moved to Jerusalem, the place I love most in the world.
Yes, I had two of the most wonderful children a mother could wish for. But when I suddenly found myself a single-mom, I had to work two jobs just to feed my kids. This meant I left home early in the morning, dropped them off at a babysitter, and picked them up in the evening. I’d feed and bathe them, put them to bed and leave for work again.
I was feeding my kids – but I wasn’t parenting them.
I was living in a place I love – but I couldn’t share it with my children.
We had a nice apartment – but I was never there to make it a home.
I had two jobs – but no time to do the work I really love, which is write.
What pained me the most was that I wasn’t the kind of mother I had dreamed of being – the kind who is there when the kids come home from school; the kind that helps with homework, finger paints and takes them on field trips so they can learn to appreciate their environment and heritage.
Something had to give – and I didn’t want it to be my family. I quit the jobs and took a part-time one that I could do from home. It sure didn’t pay much, but if God had given me these children to parent, I figured that was my top priority mission in life and I prayed He’d send us the wherewithal to sustain us.
The positive change in my children was immediate. What was almost as gratifying was that I found time to start writing again. And one day, I stumbled upon an online business system that would allow me to write about what I loved, do it from home, and make an income. It sounded too good to be true, but it isn’t.
I didn’t know anything about building a website, or an online business – but I did love my hometown and I loved writing about it. My articles had begun appearing in several magazines and newspapers. With the help of a unique site building program, an online tool that helps people like me turn their passion into a profitable business, I was able to use my writing to generate a steady income for my family.
Now, I work from home. I work when I want to. I’m there for my children.
What could be better? The website has become a family project – the children come up with ideas for articles, we go on field (“research”) trips, and they’re learning many useful computer skills. We’ve created a real family business – together.
Working from home is hard work. When you’re doing something you love, however, and doing it for yourself, it’s a joy. And when it allows you the flexibility to be there for your family, it’s a blessing.
Everyone has something that they’re knowledgeable or passionate about. If working from home, for yourself, is something you’ve thought about but didn’t think possible, I would highly recommend creating an online business.
Think you don’t know how? You’d be wrong – if I could do it, anyone can.
Building a successful website takes a lot of knowledge that most of us regular folks don’t have. The program I use (one that is even offered in colleges around the world) takes care of much of the technical stuff and leaves you free to create content about what you know. It’s there step-by-step, guiding you along and showing you what to do. The community of people who use the program are there to help each other, too. (You can check the link below if you'd like to know more about the program I chose.)
Building a real business is not a get-rich-quick scheme – it takes time, persistence and patience. It took about 14 months before my online business took off. But it’s one of the best things I ever did – for the sake of my family, professionally and for myself.
And to top if off – it’s a whole lot of fun!
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Contributor's Note
M. Miller is a writer who specializes in health and travel, and the editor of The Jerusalem Insider's Guide.
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