Vera Raposo 2.0

Another Work at Home Moms Profile for you to be inspired by.  This week I’m introducing you to the endearing Vera Raposo of Small Business Branding.

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

I really was in a place of working every single day of my life, I basically got 3 days off per year due to retail  store hours and owning my own business meant being a slave to it. My day often started around 8am, and lasted until 10pm, especially at Christmas these hours were often extended and owning 5 store locations, I had just had enough after 12 years.

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

I initially came across Alice Seba, and started generating ideas there. I wrote down everything that I was most interested in and decided that scrapbooking would be it for me. I love scrapbooking and everything about it. I love to write and share my stories in my albums so I know my children will have things to look at in the future as they grow up. Scrapbooking seemed like a nice fit for me, so I went for it.

Where did you look for inspiration?

Initially only knowing Alice and her site, I’d often check out internetbasedmoms.com then as time went on I joined Mom Masterminds where I started knowing very little, at this point I think I had only ever created 7 web pages.  I grew to really enjoy learning at Mom Masterminds and realized that this was THE place for me.  Even today, I get inspiration from the many moms inside MM who are not only growing their business, but totally thriving in it.

Is there anything that you’ve tried that you would say didn’t work for you?

I wouldn’t say there was anything that didn’t work, most of it has. I think the main thing I could say what didn’t work was the constant purchasing of ebooks to learn a new technique, and expecting it to work right away. A technique is just a technique, an idea is just an idea.  You need to develop a process of things that will get you to where you want, thankfully I know this and work on this daily.

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

Oh Kelly, this brings me to tears. I spent so many days and nights away from my children, I will never get back that time.  I love the fact that I am here with my children now day in and day out, spending very special moments with them during each day. I can tuck them in at night, I can kiss them when they are hurt, and I can support them in what makes them happy. Now at ages 15, 12, and 6, I am realizing how very fortunate I am today to have this opportunity of working online.

How are you applying Web 2.0 tactics to your business?

I probably don’t focus enough on Web 2.0 things but for now I love spending time on Twitter, I enjoy building relationships on Facebook, I’ve hooked up with lots of people from even elementary school, very cool.  I’ve spent some time creating pages on Squidoo and even had a virtual assistant do some for me.  I recently joined Linked In, but other than that not alot.

What are your hopes for the future?

I hope to build a business that is thriving over and above anything my 5 retail stores ever did so that I can donate and be a part of ministries that I’d like to contribute to.  But mostly, to be happy and live life to the fullest, thankfully this internet business that I have allows me to do all of this.

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

Stop looking for opportunities to happen, and start creating them for yourself.  Keep looking forward, don’t dwell on finances, think of what you want to create and build for your future.

Also, get plugged into a group that will help you at a much faster pace, I welcome you to join us all at Mom Masterminds, we are truly a family there and I visit there still almost daily.  Don’t get sucked into hype filled messages, the key for me is listening only to a handful of core mentors. Also realize that this is a real business, not a play thing that you’re going to try out for now, you’re putting time and effort into building something very real.