Sarah Zeldman 2.0

It’s time for another work at home mom profile and this week I’m introducing you to Sarah Zeldman of Solutions for Busy Moms. Sarah has always been a source of encouragement and perspective for me. She is a life and business coach, awesome provider of solutions and so much more. Enjoy getting to know her today.

Sarah, when did you first decide to look for a way to work from home?

I graduated from the University of Rochester in 1996 and I decided to get a second degree. I wanted to become a Sign Language Interpreter. During the program I developed Repetitive Stress Injury. Eventually, I was in constant pain and went to many different kinds of doctors. Two weeks before I graduated from the Interpreting Program my physical therapist gave me a wake-up-call. He said, “We think you should find another profession.”

At the time I was dating the man who is now my husband. Our relationship was headed toward marriage and I always wanted to have children. I also had been listening to Dr. Laura often and she made me think about the importance staying home with my children in a way I hadn’t really considered before. I figured that if I had to find something else to do professionally, I might as well do it from home so I could be home with my kids.

How did you sort through your ideas for a work at home business?

After the physical therapists said, “We think you should find another profession” they sent me to a career counselor. We spoke about my skills and he told me that he thought I’d be perfect for this new profession called “Personal and Professional Coaching.” It sounded great. I explored several other options, but I kept coming back to coaching because it suited my personality so well and I could do the training and the work from home. I did some research to make sure that it was not a scam (I interviewed coaches in my area) and decided to go for it!

However, my business has evolved much more from that initial decision than I ever thought it would. I thought I would simply “open a coaching practice” and coach clients and that would be it. I learned that there is a world of difference between getting trained to provide a service and being able to actually market that service. Along the way I also learned about creating other streams of more passive income (so I wouldn’t have to be on the phone all day long!). Now I’d say that my primary career is as an internet/information marketer. My Internet based-business is centered on my expertise in the fields of Family Management and Home Business coaching. All of the products and services that I offer come from my training and experience, but I don’t simply offer my coaching services, I have created passive streams of income as well.

What do you love about what you are doing to work at home today?

• I love that it is flexible. I can work when I want - and I often want to work!
• I love that my work is focused around my interests and areas of passion.
• I love that it is imperfect. There are typos all over my blog and I don’t care. If anyone out there does - go read something else!
• I love that I’m the boss. I make up the rules.
• I love the connections that I’ve made with other women - especially at Mom Masterminds. I love how we support each other with our work. I really feel that they’ve ‘got my back’ and I’ve got theirs.
• I love the writing. I love that I am capturing all of my best solutions so they will help women for years to come and be there when my children are older and they will have some insight into which I am.
• I just love that this is mine. Something I’ve created and taught-myself-how to do.
• It’s a great time to be alive. I couldn’t imagine life without my blogs and podcasts!

How are you applying Web 2.0 tactics to your business?

Hmm…well….blog and my upcoming podcasts are the heart of my site.

As for the more recent 2.0 developments like twitter, facebook, squidoo etc - I know about them and how they work, but I am not using them yet. They are on my list of “things to do” but they are also, to some degree, a distraction. Due to family and religious obligations my time is very limited and I must remain focused. I think that once I get some more products and streams of income in place I will use more 2.0 tactics to draw traffic to the site. Right now my focus is not as much on drawing traffic as it is on creating products. One step at a time!

I’m proof that while these web 2.0 tactics can be helpful. You can also succeed without them. DO NOT GET DISTRACTED FROM YOUR PLAN!

What are your hopes for the future?

1. My major financial goal is to make enough money in revenue, that is mostly passive, to cover my families basic monthly expenses. Even though my husband’s new job will more than cover our expenses (Thank G-d), I would love to be able to know that if, G-d forbid, anything ever happened to him, I could take care of the basic needs of my family without having to panic. Call me paranoid, but I think every woman has to have a “Plan B”.
2. Professionally speaking, I would love to touch the lives of countless numbers of women with my work. I have what I think are some unique ideas about what will help mother’s thrive in their busy lives and demanding roles - and I’d like to spread my ideas as far as they can go (Oprah - Here I come!)
3. I also have dreams of branching out into different, but related fields. One day, I want to get a Master’s Degree in Applied Positive Psychology at U Penn and work with my husband (who has a Ph D in clinical psychology). I want to serve the women of my Jewish community by creating JewishWorkAtHomeMoms.com as well as being involved in the development of Women’s programming at KosherTube.com. And, I want to publish a cookbook! I’ve already started on this project by posting my recipes at HealthyShabbat.com.
4. Most importantly, I hope that all of my hopes, dreams and ambitions do not distract me from what is really important - my family and my spiritual life. I must admit that to build SolutionsForBusyMoms.com - I feel that I multitasked a bit too much and my children did not get enough attention at times. Plus of course, I could always do more Torah learning! I must learn to tear myself away from the computer and live in the moment. That is truly my highest goal - to remember my priorities.

What advice would you give a new work at home mom?

For those who need to chose a home business, I wrote an article “So You Want Start A Home Business: Six Key Questions to Ask Before You Even Start To Look For One.” Answer these six questions - and it will help you narrow down your options before you get overwhelmed!

If you have already picked a business, and you are just getting started — DO NOT DIVE IN WITHOUT CREATING A PLAN! Get yourself a copy of the workbook, “The One Page Business Plan” and capture your vision, mission, objectives, strategies and plans on paper. It will only take you a few hours and it will be a guiding compass that will help to keep you and your business on track.

Don’t try to go it alone. You are going to need someone to run your ideas by - and your husband usually is not or go to your l the right person! I highly recommend Mom Masterminds.

If you’re starting an internet-based business - often you don’t need a website - a blog will do just fine. If you don’t want to learn how to install a wordpress blog, I recommend Typepad. It’s very affordable, with lots of “bells and whistles” and it’s point-and-click easy!

It usually takes years to be an “overnight success.” Savor the small victories and NEVER GIVE UP!