Lessons from a Unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant who actually does the work:
All moms face challenges returning to the workforce. And if you’re a smart woman who is exploring online job options that you can work from home, it probably feels extra intimidating.
The online space is a whole new world. But let’s face it – heading back into the workforce after you haven’t worked in a while is hard for everyone.
I hear it inside my Facebook groups and in my DMs every day.
Women – moms – telling me they’ve been out of the workforce for a few years and now they want to get back in. But they don’t know how.
They’re scared, worried about how to transition from being “just a mom” to having a career again.
It probably won’t surprise you to hear that I have a lot to say on this subject!
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Your Mom Skills Can Help You Land the Perfect Online Job!
First, there is no such thing as “just a mom.” I have four young kids – I know.
I see you juggling carpool and homework help, making dinners and trying to keep on top of the never ending trail of crumbs your children leave behind them everywhere they go.
I see you because I am you.
The truth is, if you’ve been out of the workforce for a while, it can be challenging to jump back in. You feel out of the loop, you worry your skills aren’t where they need to be, and many in your old network have moved on without you.
I’ve talked in the past about how well-suited teachers are for online jobs in the digital marketing world.
And I’ve talked about how women who’ve worked in the corporate world in admin roles can easily take those skills and transition into the online business world.
So today, I want to talk about how another group of women naturally has skills that make them ready to jump into the world of online digital marketing and kick some butt.
Sure, they’ll need to learn some skills and they’ll need to take a few deep breaths and be willing to take chances, but these women are used to that.
They do it every day.
These women… are moms.
So let’s talk about some of the things that set moms up for success as digital marketers.
Moms Know How To “Figure It Out”
When you first became a mom, when they handed you your first child and sent you home from the hospital, did you know what you were doing?
I know I didn’t!
There was a small part of me – okay, a very large part of me – that couldn’t believe the doctors and nurses thought sending my son home with just my husband and me was a good idea. He was tiny and we were mostly clueless – didn’t they see that?!?!
But when you got home and realized this new human who you loved more than you thought possible depended on you for absolutely everything, what did you do?
You figured it out.
It was messy at first.
There was the whole no sleeping thing.
And the “why is he still crying?” thing.
Or the “what is that smell?” thing.
Plus the “is this normal?” thing.
And so many other things.
But… after a while, you got the hang of it. Sure, there were still occasional exploding diapers, ear infections, and crying for seemingly no reason. But you knew you could handle all of it.
What Does This Have to Do With Looking For an Online Job as Mom?
More than you might think!
Remember all the information you got from the books you read when you were pregnant and the class you went to at the hospital? You learned all you could to prepare for what it would be like to take care of your baby.
But just like the books couldn’t truly prepare you for motherhood, no course can totally prepare you for what it’s like to work online as a VA or digital marketer.
You just have to jump in and figure it out.
And you will figure it out. One day, you’ll realize you’re working your way through a list of tasks like a pro. You’ll have happy clients and a healthy bank account.
But it’s up to you to take those “figure it out” skills you use every day in your mom-life and use them to wow online business owners.
Moms Know How To Problem Solve
What do moms do all day long? (Besides making meals and sweeping up crumbs, that is.)
Moms can:
- solve problems – big and small
- pivot on a dime
- find alternate solutions.
Moms don’t panic and they don’t give up.
When your kids are small, there are problems to solve all day long.
One day it’s a kid who will only eat chicken nuggets – for every meal. The next day your kid suddenly turns into a biter. And then there’s my favorite – the kid who decides that naps are for losers on a day when you were absolutely counting on that time to get some stuff done!
When your kids get older, the problems get a bit more complex.
Maybe you have a child who struggles to keep up in school. Or gets being picked on for being different. Maybe your teenager decides personal hygiene isn’t in their list of priorities.
Let me repeat – moms solve problems every day.
Moms get creative. They try a solution. And if it doesn’t work, they regroup and try something else. As many times as it takes.
Well, the online business world is filled with opportunities for you to solve problems. You’ll learn new skills, new tech, and entirely new ways of doing business.
Working as a virtual assistant or digital marketing VA means identifying problems, coming up with a plan, and solving those problems. And if the first solution doesn’t work, you get back in there and try something else.
Just like you do every day!
Moms Can Organize and Manage ALL.THE.THINGS.
Sometimes business owners need to be managed. Their schedules, their deadlines, their projects.
As a mom, you manage schedules, deadlines, and projects for your kids every day, right?
Honestly, I know if I can manage schedules for four kids’ activities – school projects, doctor and orthodontist appointments, playdates, and ALL THE REST – I can manage the schedule of an online business owner.
You can, too.
Virtual assistants and digital media sidekicks can do so many things behind the scenes.
So if organization is your superpower, you’ll have no trouble finding online business owners to work with. Managing inboxes, handling customer service, tracking website analytics – they need help with all of it!
Moms Know How To Encourage & Cheer On, Or Kick in the Butt.
VAs and digital marketers take care of so many behind the scenes tasks and projects for online business owners. And they need that help – every day.
But the truth is, sometimes our clients need more.
Sometimes they need to be encouraged or cheered for.
Being a visionary means taking risks and dealing with successes and failures.
There are challenges and disappointments along with successes and triumphs. A true unicorn sidekick knows when to offer words of encouragement and when to break open the virtual champagne.
There are even times when business owners need a gentle kick in the butt to get things done.
You’ll find that kids and business owners actually have a lot in common.
⚡Related Podcast Alert: How a stay-at-home mom found freelance job success online!
Here’s a real world example of a stay-at-home mom who is now getting booked out as a Virtual Assistant.
As Carrie’s kids grew closer to their high school graduations, she decided to head back into the workforce. She was able to leverage her awesome mom skills with her positive attitude and determination. And it wasn’t long before she found herself with a dream client and an online job she loved!
Take a break and learn more of her story in her Unicorns Unite podcast episode:
Here’s what it comes down to if you’re a mom who is seeking an online work-from-home job option:
Moms need to believe they can.
When I talk about mindset, I focus on the practical side of things.
But, mindset matters. And in this world – this Unicorn VA, digital marketing, online business world – mindset really matters.
What Business Owners Are Looking for in a Digital Marketing Assistant
I know you have the soft skills as a mom. But what do business owners really want? What are they looking for when they are ready to hire their first Virtual Assistant? Learn what are the qualities and traits that business owners want and what will make you stand out as a digital marketing virtual assistant.
The Takeaway: Being a mom has given you an amazing foundation that is essential if you’re looking for an online job as a unicorn virtual assistant!
You need to BELIEVE you can do this.
Because when you believe it, you’re willing to try new things. Which leads to succeeding at new things. And trying more new things. And, before you know it, you’ll be rocking your own online service provider business. Because you’re a mom… and moms can do just about anything.
I also know that sometimes we need a little help believing in ourselves. That’s where community comes in. I have a fantastic community of business owner unicorns who share knowledge and job ops with each other. And most importantly, they cheer each other on!!
You can get started in finding your mom tribe by joining my Facebook group. It’s full of go-getters and plenty of moms like you who are all at different places on their work-from-home journey!
Remember – I’m cheering you on!
-Emily, Digital Marketing Consultant and Implementer
4 Ways we can work together
1. Do you need to acquire digital marketing implementation skills? Check out the Unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant School. (It opens twice a year so jump on the waitlist)
2. Already doing the work and have clients? But need more clients and a better referral network? Apply for my Digital Marketing Workgroup.
3. Maybe you don’t need to learn the hard skills but need help setting up your independent contractor business? Don’t spend $1300 on a “typical start-your-VA business-course.” Learn the quick steps in my Freelance Biz Kickstarter only $297. Inside you’ll get a contract to use with your social media clients and services.
4. Need to hire a Unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant? Submit your job opportunity here. I’ll share with my workgroups totally free.
“I help smart women learn the in-demand digital marketing strategies and tech skills to get hired as a unicorn virtual assistant.“
Further Reading:
How to Work Online Even If You Haven’t Worked in Years
Do I need more experience, or a college degree, to be a virtual assistant?
How to find online jobs and get hired as a VA!
Working from home with kids – the practical stuff!
