Do you need to be an expert? Think about how many times this idea has been told to you. Have you heard of the 10,000 hour rule or the idea of deliberate practice? Both of these ideas, among others, push the idea of expertise. But do you really need to be an expert at one thing or specialize in a specific field, or know your niche? This blog is about exploring outside of the box. Looking at different ways to do things outside of the typically accepted advice. So far we've challenged the idea of w...
Dec 18, 2021•20 min
Download your free Mom Boss 2.0 workbook and start a business without a niche: Do an internet search and type in how to make money from home or how to start a business. You probably see a ton of results. Once you get past all of the "do surveys" or "get paid to just do this" (take it from someone who has tried, getting paid for surveys is a waste of time). You find one piece of advice common to all of the search returns. And they all say this, "If you want a successful business then you need to ...
Dec 17, 2021•22 min
This is going to be one of those posts that breaks with conventional wisdom and what you've always heard about chasing your dreams. This is a show that explores outside of the box, so we need to do this every once in a while. This is part 1 in a two part series exploring what it means to be chasing your dreams. Show notes and links: https://lifeunboxed.blog/chasing-your-dreams-part-1-challenging-the-accepted-idea/ RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW: Chasing Your Dream (Part 2): https://youtu.be/bZj...
Dec 16, 2021•12 min
Having a website is one of those non-negotiables for your business. But creating a website can be daunting, overwhelming, frustrating and whatever other adjective you can think of. In this episode I am going to give you 7 things to do before you start to make the process of building a website easier. Show notes and links: https://lifeunboxed.blog/what-to-do-before-you-start-building-a-website-to-make-it-easier/ RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO: The Many Ways to Create a Logo: https://lifeunboxed...
Dec 15, 2021•40 min
Today we are getting into Part 1 of a 3 part series, and I am excited to talk about Part Time Work From Home Job: Prepare Before You Take the Leap. I am not going to lie to you, starting a business is scary. And every business book that tells you it is a lot of work is telling you the truth. We are going to dive into the first steps to really prepare you to take the leap into your own business, so you can be successful on your own terms. Show notes and links: https://lifeunboxed.blog/part-time-w...
Dec 14, 2021•14 min
Writing on so many topics this year has really given me perspective on a few things: 1. You can define success on your own terms. 2. You don't need to fit into some else's idea of how you work, school, or chase your dreams. 3. As a momtrepreneur, you get to break all the rules. Friend, if all the conventional advice and ideas on how to start a business haven't worked for you, then you're in the right place. Enjoy trying some unconventional ideas. Show notes and links: https://lifeunboxed.blog/un...
Dec 13, 2021•8 min
This is the most important topic to talk about. Out of everything that's written—challenging the typically accepted advice on finding your niche, chasing your dreams, or being a generalist—answering this question for yourself, personally, and for your business is the most important thing you can do to be a sought after work from home mom. The question is: Why integrity is important in business as a work from home mom and virtual assistant? You need to answer this for yourself because this will i...
Nov 01, 2021•18 min
Are you ready to create a website for your business? Is it time to launch your great idea out into the world? But how to create a website when you don't know where to start? Creating a website for your business is a daunting task, and there are so many false promises of launching one in 5 days. Show notes and links: https://lifeunboxed.blog/how-to-create-a-website-in-5-painless-steps/ RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW: How to Create a Website for Beginners The Emotional Stages of Starting a Busine...
Sep 27, 2021•14 min
For most moms, staying fit or getting in shape is usually the last on your to do list. Even when you have work out routines at home, it still seems like an impossible task. There is so much that demands your attention, and if you add one more thing to your plate you might just break it. Add to the fact that working from home with kids is exhausting. You are juggling a lot throughout the day. Show notes and links: https://lifeunboxed.blog/work-out-routines-at-home-3-tips-to-stay-fit-working-from-...
Sep 20, 2021•17 min
Let's be real, who doesn't love an excuse to buy cute clothes. And pregnancy is the best excuse for needing a new wardrobe. The downside is you will only wear those pregnancy clothes for about five months. So how do you get some great clothes without going crazy spending on the maternity clothes. Save your money for post-baby clothes (trust me it will be money well spent). Two things make shopping fun for me, being able to spend money and finding a good deal. After 6 kids, I discovered how to co...
Sep 13, 2021•19 min
It is important to find the right images that tells your story. In our world of open-source sharing finding free images for website is easier than ever. From the dawning of time humans found ways to communicate. Communicating through visuals hasn't changed over the centuries. It is still important to find the right images that tells your story. In our world of open-source sharing, finding free images for website is easier than ever. You can tell your visual story. Show notes and links RESOURCES ...
Sep 06, 2021•25 min
All right moms. Let's get really honest. You know it's true, but we don't like to admit it. But sometimes you just have a bad day. This usually happens because as a momtrepreneur you feel like you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. Like Atlas, everything depends on you. Then it happens, something slips through your fingers or gets overlooked in the day-to-day melee, and you make a mistake. Or in all the beautiful chaos of what you do, a few things slide past you. And then the spira...
Aug 30, 2021•21 min
As a homeschooling mom of 6 (ranging from teen to toddler), a momtrepreneur for 7 years, now running 2 businesses, I understand the thoughts and feelings that are clamoring around in your head. Trying to answer this question, can it be done? Show notes and links: https://lifeunboxed.blog/conference-lifestyle-of-the-homeschooling-mom--momtrepreneur CHECK OUT LIFE UNBOXED MERCHANDISE AND GET SOME GREAT MOM BOSS SWAG https://teespring.com/stores/life-unboxed-blog MOMS RUN ON COFFEE. BUY JODIE THE M...
Aug 18, 2021•11 min
You've probably heard that reading is one of the most important things you can do. I've read that Warren Buffet said reading 500 pages per day was the key to success. So I had do some math when I read this. The average book is about 300 pages. This means that he reads a book and a half every day and about 600 books per year! So how to read a book for busy mom bosses? Show notes and links: https://lifeunboxed.blog/how-to-get-clients-5-ways-to-get-clients-as-a-virtual-assistant/ RESOURCES MENTIONE...
Jul 26, 2021•20 min
Do you dread the start of a new day because you know that chaos is going to ensue? That as soon as the alarm clocks go off, the day is going to start with noise and commotion. And then the inevitable uphill battle of motivating your kids to do their schoolwork, while the toddler is walking around in just his underwear that is inside out and on backwards. Does this sound familiar you? There is a cure—plan for your day so your kids know what to do and you keep your sanity! Show notes and links: ht...
Jul 12, 2021•20 min
Momtrepreneurs are busy. Yes, I just stated the most obvious quality about being a momtrepreneur. It is not easy to find time to invest in your education. You know you need to keep learning and growing, but how do you pick the best business books to read? Like everything else you do, this requires intentional planning and good recommendations. Show notes and links: https://lifeunboxed.blog/my-top-8-best-business-books RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW: How to Pick the Best Business Book Building a...
Jun 21, 2021•22 min
As a momtrepreneur, it is not always easy to find time—between juggling clients, juggling schoolwork, and everything else that we have to do—to sit down and read. Like everything else it requires intentional planning and good recommendations. At the end of every year, I sit down and stare at my overflowing bookshelf, and then I scroll through my Kindle trying to decide the best business books to read in the new year. I am not in short supply of books to read. And I'm not even including the books...
Jun 14, 2021•10 min
Every business starts with an idea. Whether you are a non-profit wanting to change the world, a creative business wanting to make the first computer animated movie, or a small business wanting to build a business website. Regardless of how your idea came about. Whether born out of frustration…why can't a product be better or work like this. Or why can't I find anything for people like me. Or born from seeing a need and wanting to help. However, your idea came to you there is still a wide gap bet...
May 30, 2021•10 min
Did you know that one mark of highly effective people is that they are organized? And the key to being more productive is to be organized. So how do you do it when you have a house full of kids and running a business from home? There is a lot going on and sometimes it feels like the growing mountain of papers is going to overtake everything. But I have a solution for you, and it is not that time consuming. Here are the 4 steps on how to get organized. Show notes and links: https://lifeunboxed.bl...
May 23, 2021•16 min
You are probably staring at the computer screen wondering what to do. Where do you even begin? You can look on YouTube, but there is so much information. You don't have time to sit and sift through countless hours of information to find that one 5 minute video that actually answers your questions. So where do you start building a business website. Show notes and links: https://lifeunboxed.blog/building-a-business-website-without-being-a-web-programmer/ How to Create a Website for Beginners Playl...
May 16, 2021•21 min
As momtrepreneurs, you may find yourself doing everything. Designing a website for your business, writing all the content, and creating social media posts. At least if you are starting out. Whatever your field is, you will find yourself writing. Even though we are so digital, you can't escape the need to write. You can't ignore writing. But there is good news. You can improve it. Improvement never comes with a wave of a magic wand. I wish it did because time is limited. It always comes with hard...
May 02, 2021•14 min
As moms, working from home, there are so many places to sit down. Since it feels like we are running a marathon every day, between juggling clients, homeschooling kids, and running errands. It is easy to think we are getting in enough movement. But you are probably sitting more than you realize. And there are some damaging effects that you probably haven't considered. Show notes and links: https://lifeunboxed.blog/weve-been-told-sitting-is-the-new-smoking-but-its-worse/ RESOURCES MENTIONED IN TH...
Apr 26, 2021•13 min
Having a website is one of those non-negotiables for your business. But creating a website can be daunting, overwhelming, frustrating and whatever other adjective you can think of. In this episode I am going to give you 7 things to do before you start to make the process of building a website easier. Show notes and links: https://lifeunboxed.blog/what-to-do-before-you-start-building-a-website-to-make-it-easier/ RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW: The Many Ways to Create a Logo Bluehost Siteground D...
Apr 19, 2021•40 min
The first trimester of pregnancy can really knock you out. Between exhaustion All. Day. Long. And the nausea, how can you cope? Here are my tips and tricks when pregnancy symptoms hit. Whether you are still working in an office, or you are home working with your kids. When pregnancy symptoms hit, you have to deal with them, so you can keep functioning. Show notes and links: https://lifeunboxed.blog/exhaustion--nausea--cravings-oh-my-when-pregnancy-symptoms-hit/ RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW: A...
Apr 12, 2021•10 min
This show is a deep dive into the many ways to create a logo. Whether you have big budget or no budget you can create a logo that represents your brand. With marketing being so visual in our culture it is important for your business to have a logo that is distinct and recognizable. I have been working with artists in the publishing field for a number of years now, so I wanted to give you the inside scoop on how to work with an artist if that is the way you decide to go. But also give you the too...
Apr 05, 2021•26 min
This is the final post in our part time work from home jobs series, What You Need to Start. I must say this series has made me very excited for you. I hope that I have offered you the help that I couldn't find when I started out. It is not easy starting your own business, but you can do it. Part 1: https://lifeunboxed.blog/part-time-work-from-home-job-part-1-prepare-before-you-take-the-leap/ Part 2: https://lifeunboxed.blog/part-time-work-from-home-job-part-2-start-a-virtual-assistant-business/ ...
Mar 15, 2021•24 min
Being successful on your own terms takes imagination, determination, and a lot of thinking outside of box. It takes looking at how everything has always been done, and deciding you are going to do it differently. This brings us to Part 2 of the Part Time Work From Home Job series. Show notes and links: https://lifeunboxed.blog/part-time-work-from-home-job-part-2-start-a-virtual-assistant-business/ RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO: Part Time Work From Home Job (Part 1): Prepare Before You Take Th...
Mar 08, 2021•15 min
Today we are getting into Part 1 of a 3 part series, and I am excited to talk about Part Time Work From Home Job: Prepare Before You Take the Leap. I am not going to lie to you, starting a business is scary. And every business book that tells you it is a lot of work is telling you the truth. We are going to dive into the first steps to really prepare you to take the leap into your own business, so you can be successful on your own terms. Show notes and links: https://lifeunboxed.blog/part-time-w...
Mar 01, 2021•14 min
In 2020, everyone started asking the same question. How to work from home with kids? I've been doing it for over 5 years now, and we are going to talk about it. I am going to let you in on all my secrets to being more productive working from home with kids. Show notes and links: https://lifeunboxed.blog/how-to-work-from-home-with-kids-5-ways-to-be-more-productive/ RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW: Harvard Article: https://hbr.org/2014/01/to-raise-productivity-let-more-employees-work-from-home . R...
Feb 25, 2021•12 min
I am Jodie the Mom from Lifeunboxed.blog, and I wanted to tell you a little about the show. Think of this as the about page for the podcast. The show can be found on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts. Like most great ideas it started from a place of frustration. I was frustrated at the fact that I couldn't find anyone or anything that I could really relate to. There aren't a lot of people who work from home, homeschool their kids, and run a business. Like this gem of advice I heard: "P...
Feb 04, 2021•10 min
