Life Unboxed Blog

The goal of any business is to get bigger. Every business book, blog, YouTube channel, and podcast is designed to teach you to grow your business. But as you grow a bigger business, is it also possible to grow a bigger family?

 Many people don’t think this is possible. That creating a business and growing a bigger family should be separate and compartmentalized. But let’s break all the rules, if you want to be with your kids and grow a bigger family, and have a successful business…you can. #biggerfamily #growingabusiness #lifeunboxedblog

Show notes a...

 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

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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 MOM ONE. https://ko-fi.com/lifeunboxedblog

ABOUT JODIE THE MOM: To learn more about Jodie, please visit: https://life...

Do you think about joining a homeschooling co-op, but you aren't sure how you can contribute? Are you fresh out of ideas for a co-op class? There is good news! You can easily create a class that you will love to teach and will be fun for kids too.

And if you are hesitating because you don't feel like you have anything to give. Let me tell you mom, you do. Share your knowledge and gifts. You have something to contribute.

Show notes, links and sample schedule: https://lifeunboxed.blog/how-to-teach-a-homeschooling-co-op-class/<...

Grading. This is the dreaded task. You know the kind of task you need to psyche yourself up for days ahead of time. And grading for 4 kids multiplies this feeling by 4. Teaching multiple grades, figuring out the right curriculum, and keeping grades for school, it can get overwhelming. Keeping grades is not my favorite thing to do, but over the years, through trial and error, I've found a system that works. 

 If you are feeling mom guilt when it comes to keeping grades for school, banish it. You homeschool because you want to tailor curriculum an...

Today we are going to talk about the biggest question always asked by new homeschoolers. What about socialization? What social opportunities are there for kids?

As a second generation homeschooler I've heard this question or comment for over 25 years. 

Most of the time it is a sincerely asked question, but it is rooted in a myth. 

Show notes and links: https://lifeunboxed.blog/but-what-about-socialization-social-opportunities-for-kids/

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO:

Find local homeschool co-ops/organizations: https://hslda.org/content/orgs/default.aspx

That Time we all be...

It is that time of year. You are probably shopping for books and getting next year's school schedules set up. Or at least thinking about starting. If you are just beginning your homeschool journey or looking for more tips on the best homeschool curriculum (let's face it, no matter how long we've been doing this, we are always on the lookout to improve) then this show is for you!

Show notes and links: https://lifeunboxed.blog/how-to-choose-the-best-homeschool-curriculum-for-your-tribe/

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

Cathy Duffy's 102 Top...

I wanted to give you some honest advice from a homeschool mom of 6. Being a homeschool mom and momtrepreneur requires understanding balance. Not the zen-like balance of teeter totter, but more like the balance of walking a tightrope. It is not easy, but it can be done. There is probably a whole lot more that could be said on this topic. But here is my best attempt to give you some honest advice from a homeschool mom and mom boss.  

Show notes and links: https://lifeunboxed.blog/honest-advice-from-a-homeschool-mom-of-6

Honest Advice from a Homeschool Mom of 6 P...

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 VIDEO:

Harvard Article: https://hbr.org/2014/01/to-raise-productivity-let-more-employees-work-from-home.

Read More about work from home:

https://lifeunboxed.blog/7-truths-to-work-from-home-online/

https://lifeunboxed.blog/7-myths-about-working-from-home-online/

I hope you are enjoying the conclusion to the holiday season. Winter, Thanksgiving, and then Christmas is my favorite time of year. Since I gave myself December off (I am a really good boss), I wanted to do something a little different. I want to share my story from corporate workhorse to momtrepeneur.  

If you’ve read the About the Mom page (they say this is usually the most read page on a blog), then you know a little of my story. But I wanted to go more in-depth and share, not just the chronological events, but the...

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. 

 Not to mention, there are so many temptations lurking about when you work from home. The pantry beckons you to in...

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 THE VIDEO:

Article: https://theheartfoundation.org/2019/08/10/is-sitting-the-new-smoking/

Garmin

Article: https://www.insider.com/s...

I hope you've enjoyed your Christmas feasts with all the trimmings. I am sure you are now thinking about starting a new exercise regime. Usually, this is the time of year where everyone talks about goals and resolutions. Many people are most hopeful during this season. The expectation of a new year makes people feel like they can really turn over a new leaf or start something new. Inevitably, everyone adds get in shape or workout to the list. If you added these to your list, here is some workout motivation to get you started crushing your...

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 MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

How to P...

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: https://youtu.be/EObMuOvfg9U
Building a Storybrand by Donald Miller
E...

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 in my Audible account. Erasm...

During this busy time of the year, most people start planning their resolutions and goals for the new year. Unless, of course, you took my advice about planning goals at a different time. If you are starting to think about what to add to your list, I hope you are asking yourself this question: What books to read? #booksformoms #whatbooktoread #lifeunboxedblog

Show notes and links: https://lifeunboxed.blog/what-books-to-read-for-business-improvement-and-fun/

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

Goal Series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZsaBnjpt3sBSu6eLN-lDZW4y265yltnR

 Victoria by Daisy Goodwin

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 what it means...

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...

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/bZjuSVIKI4Q

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CHECK OUT LIFE U...

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.blog/the-many-ways-to-create-a-business-logo/

Divi Theme: https://www.elegantthemes.com/affiliates/idevaffiliate.php?id=48943

Color theory: https://ww...

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...

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/unconventional-ideas-on-how-to-start-a-business/

The holiday season can add stress to your already busy schedule. This show is going to give you 5 tips to stress less, so you can enjoy the season.

Show notes and links: https://lifeunboxed.blog/5-tips-to-stress-less-during-the-holidays

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

Santa Sumo Ugly Sweater
Plan for the Day

Goal Series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZsaBnjpt3sBSu6eLN-lDZW4y265yltnR

Conquer the World T-Shirt
Book Recommendations for Moms: https://lifeunboxed.blog/book-recommendations-for-moms-books-so-good-youll-read-them-twice/
More Book Suggestions: https://lifeunboxed.blog/best-books-for-moms/
Favorite Mysteries
More...

This is part 4 and the final show on how to achieve goals for moms. In Part 1 we talked about zigging when everyone else zags, Part 2 we differentiated between goals and habits and dug deep into goals. Then in part 3 we talked about creating habits to achieve goals. And now we are on part 4!

I confess, these are some of the longest posts that I’ve written and I barely scratched the surface. There is so much more that I could write on achieving goals as a mom. Like I’ve said throughout this series, I was so frus...

You have habits. I have habits. Whether good or bad we all have habits that will propel us forward toward our goals for life. Or keep us from achieving them.

If you truly want to achieve your goals for life, the you need to look at the habits you've formed. Because habits are such a part of you, remember they are something that you do almost involuntarily. You need to really look objectively. Or get someone else to give you objective insight.

The good habits you create are going to be the engine...

Welcome to part 2 of the setting goals in life series. This series is for the mom who is tired of trying goal system after goal system, only to fail by February. Every. Single. Time. In part 1 we went through why the highly popular goals in life systems don't work for moms (these systems are usually not written with kids in mind).

 In this post, we are going to get into some of the very practical steps of goal planning for moms. So you can plan your goals in life and crush them like a mom b...

When you hear the words goal setting what feelings are brought to the surface? Excitement? Expectation? Eagerness? Or dread? Trepidation? Dismay? 

So mom, if you’ve struggled with the mom guilt of not accomplishing your goals and failing year after year. You are in good company because so have I. Let’s figure out a better way to work at goal setting.

Mom, are you ready to zig with me. Let everyone else zag, and if that works for them, great. But if it hasn’t worked for you. If you are frustrated and tired. Then le...

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 impact every aspect of your life. For your business because this will influ...

In part 1 of the series we talked about What is a Generalist and How to be a Great Virtual Assistant as One. In part 2, we discussed the Generalist vs Specialist ideas. In this final show, we are going to cover How to be Successful in Business as a Generalist. It can be done.

The biggest obstacle I faced, when I was starting my virtual assistant business, was the idea of specializing. You see, there wasn't just one thing that I was an expert at or overly blessed with talent in. My jobs always required a...

Generalist vs specialist is there room for both? Do you remember writing essay after essay or story after story that answered this question: What do you want to be when you grow up? It is a rite of passage for every elementary student to answer this question. Usually, the answers are superhero, doctor, pro baseball player, etc. But let’s be honest, what does a first grader really know about what they want to be when they grow up?

The conventional parenting wisdom is, once a child expresses this interest do whatever you can to give your ch...

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 what it means...

Grading. This is the dreaded task. You know the kind of task you need to psyche yourself up for days ahead of time. And grading for 4 kids multiplies this feeling by 4. Teaching multiple grades, figuring out the right curriculum, and keeping grades for school, it can get overwhelming. Keeping grades is not my favorite thing to do, but over the years, through trial and error, I've found a system that works. 

 If you are feeling mom guilt when it comes to keeping grades for school, banish it. You homeschool because you want to tailor curriculum an...

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 Business
You Need to Create a...

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-home

 RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

Working from Hom...

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 combine these two t...

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 MENTIONED IN THE SHOW:

I...

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...

You finally did it. After weeks, or months, or even years of planning, learning, and preparing, you finally launched your home business. You are excited to share the fruits of your hard work with the world. It is like being pregnant, you can hardly wait to see the baby and share the baby with the world. Your business is like another baby in your life. You built your website and so you launch…and all you hear is crickets. Wouldn't it be nice if you launched a project and overnight it took off? 

 Show notes and...

 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 MOM ONE.

https://ko-fi.com/lifeunboxedblog

 ABOUT JODIE THE MOM:

To learn more about Jodi...

Do you think about joining a homeschooling co-op, but you aren't sure how you can contribute? Are you fresh out of ideas for a co-op class? There is good news! You can easily create a class that you will love to teach and will be fun for kids too.

And if you are hesitating because you don't feel like you have anything to give. Let me tell you mom, you do. Share your knowledge and gifts. You have something to contribute.

Show notes, links and sample schedule: https://lifeunboxed.blog/how-to-teach-a-homeschooling-co-op-class/