Can you work at home?

Work at home is a phrase as sweet as the siren's song.

We all want to work at home; we all would like to fire our boss and set our own schedule. But how do you generate an income from home?

To make money at home, one must, well, work at home. And with all those work at home scams bouncing around the internet and in your spam box, chances are you don’t believe them because you well know if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Putting aside the work at home scams and the traditional brick and mortar small business owner avenue, what are you left with, what can you offer others, and can I make a living? Great questions to seriously entertain and answer before you actually march into your boss’s office and quit your day job.

Foremost, determine your skills. Maybe you’re an aspiring writer seeking publication of your first novel or a real green thumb. The point is to decide what you can offer others and then act to establish your credibility.

For instance, I have a friend that had an interest in Rolex watches. When eBay was new, he would see fakes being sold as genuine articles, so he would warn the buyer. After a few very grateful thank-yous, it occurred he could write an ebook and sell it to would-be Rolex buyers. Sure enough, his twenty-eight page guide sold well enough that he had to expand it. Eventually, it became a book known as the world famous Rolex Report.

Once you’ve identified your talents, the next thing to do is begin to market yourself and start making in-roads in that field. But you don’t want to be too small a fish in too big a pond, so you’ll need to carve out a niche with an appropriate twist.

If you’re going the writing route, start with your own blog. Blogging won’t necessarily pay for your next vacation, but it will put some extra dollars in your pocket.

Publish your own blog and work on marketing it to your target audience. Once you have followers, monetize your blog with Google Adsense. But in order to make an income, you’ll have to be disciplined, set your own schedule may sound great, but it’s a must to keep you not only earning money, but relevant.

If you’re not the writer type, then set your sights on what your talents and skill sets are and go from there. An acquaintance of mine from years ago used to cook dozens of empanadas at home and bring them to her place of work. Coworkers tired of the same-old would buy them for a nominal price. After a few months, she began catering and eventually, quit her nine-to-five to cater full time.

The examples might be a bit different, but the outcomes were similar. The other similarity they share was patience and work ethic. Combine confidence with persistence a twist of originality and you too can work at home.

-- Owen E. Richason IV

owenedward4@aol.com

Excerpt from ms of 28,156 words, 214 pages

I arrived at the SPCA to complete my first week. Everything was as usual for the past four days, kennel staff congregated outside the supervisor’s office, waiting for their first assignment of the day.

I was partnered with Josh, charged with cleaning B Kennel. To the “boot room” we adjourned, collecting the necessary supplies and accoutrements to begin our task.

Tramping back to B Kennel, fumbling towels, buckets and what-not in poorly chosen rubber boots too large for my feet, I dumped my equipment and clunked back to the boot room to exchange the industrial waders for a smaller pair.

Coming out of the boot room with a more appropriate size, I looked over to D Kennel to greet some of the rescues.

In the first stall was a short haired brown-and-white Chihuahua everyone called Momma, who had been rescued with a starving litter of four. With her since their arrival was one of her litter, a tiny black-and-white twelve week-old puppy, Baby -- the only survivor among his three siblings.

She was especially sweet, greeting anyone who walked by with a wagging tail and a proud introduction of her puppy, always mimicking her stance, situated right against her chest with his nose twitching away.

Through the day, every single employee and volunteer would take time to visit them, praising Momma and fawning over Baby.

They would play happily together, making whoever watched them smile ear to ear. During nap time, Baby curled up under Momma, who popped her head up on guard at any unfamiliar noise, then nuzzle his tiny head before settling back to sleep.

During meals, they shared from the same dish; Momma always making sure that Baby got his fill and would groom him proudly...whatever Momma did, Baby was right there with her.

But today, Baby wasn’t in the kennel with Momma.

I sought out a treatment staffer, asking where Baby was.

“He’s being fostered.” She answered.

Fostered?

It meant Baby wasn’t going to be placed for adoption, as he needed special care; what’s more is that Momma would be placed for adoption, once she was healthy enough.

I looked over at Momma as she nervously paced, whining for her only baby. I approached her and put my fingers through the fencing, trying to lend some comfort, “How you doing Momma?"

Although she accepted my attention, her whimpers continued – she wanted her baby – her sad brown eyes imploring for his return.

With my heart in my throat from pity, I pet her…“I know Momma, you miss your baby – I certainly know how that feels.”

The Practical Joke (TV commercial concept)

Outside; Grandma seen leashing dog

Cut to inside looking into kitchen from dinning room.

Kids crouched behind couch giggling, one calls the dog from outside but dog is tethered on leash and cannot run inside; scotch tape tacked ankle height across kitchen entryway with bone in the foreground as bait.

Grandma walks into kitchen from outside and takes cookies out of oven; sits two plates stacked with cookies next to COOKIE MIX on counter.

“Kids, Grandma made her cookies for you!” Begins to carry one plate of cookies out of kitchen to dinning room

Kids look at each other, panic and run to remove scotch tape.

Cut to outside, dog is pulling leash from anchor.

Return inside

Kids arrive too late…Grandma is tripping over tape; kids gasp as they watch. Thud sound, a pause and then kids begin to cheer.

One kid shown standing up with full plate of cookies and raises them over his head.

Switch to dinning room.

Kids sitting at table and empty plate in front of them with milk glasses half full.

Mom walking in from garage, sees remaining plate of cookies on counter next to COOKIE MIX.

Cut back to outside, dog is nearly free from leash.

Mom to kids, “I see Grandma made her cookies!” (Picks up remaining plate of cookies and walks toward dinning room.)

Before kids can warn her, Mom trips over Grandma (still laying on floor).

Gasps come from dinning room, and then cheering as dog can be seen clutching full plate of cookies with big smile on face.

Splash page to COOKIE MIX

End