Did I Really Say ‘Please Unfollow Me’?

It must have sounded weird on Twitter last night and today when I asked my followers to ‘Please unfollow me ’

It’s all part of my determination to refocus and get back to my roots.

When I took the role as General Editor at Sparkplugging back May, I had some concerns about my ability to serve a wider ‘work at home’ market.  I’ve always attracted a certain number of women who don’t have children and we’ve even welcomed a few dads here at Mom Masterminds – but all in all, the majority of my clients, customers and members are moms.

I started my online business back in 2002 because I needed to earn extra money and didn’t want to have to take another job outside the home.  As my business grew, I paid off debts and eventually turned in notice to the day job and came home full time.

When I think about my business success, I think about what it’s provided me as a mom.

My business success has made my life as a single mom easier.  I was able to homeschool my son all the way through to graduation.  I was able to sell my house and move downstate to be there for my family when they needed me.  I was able to drop my business hours down to four a day while my niece’s quadruplets were tiny and in need of overnight caregivers.

Being in business, making a good income on a flexible schedule – for me, it’s about what it lets me do.  It’s not about the business itself.

Moms get that.

Sure, Dad’s do too and sure, lots of others do as well – but there’s a special connection between mothers.

Still, I loved what Wendy Piersall was doing at Sparkplugging and I decided to just go for it and see what happens.  Five months later, I’ve had a great time there.  I’ve worked with some awesome authors, guest bloggers and developed new relationships with really incredible readers.

But, in my gut – I wasn’t in the right place.

I don’t care what anybody says, men think differently about business than women do.  And moms who have started a business to be home with their kids think different than most other women out there who have started businesses for different reasons.

It’s not about what’s right or wrong, good or bad.  It’s about what fits ME.

And that working with work at home moms.

It’s lighting a fire of enthusiasm in the hearts of moms who wonder if it’s possible for them.

It’s equipping a mom with tools that help her earn the cash she needs to keep the utilities turned on because her husband’s paycheck just doesn’t stretch far enough.

It’s celebrating with a mom who gets to quit her job and be home more with her kids.

Try as I did, I just don’t get the same connection when working with others and that’s why I feel great about my decision to leave Sparkplugging.  And it’s why I feel great about the amazing people stepping up to take Sparkplugging to new heights.  It was a great experience.  I don’t regret it but I’m pleased to take the lessons learned and refocus my attentions on the market that means most to me.

Let me say here what I said on Twitter:

If you’re not uber interested in work at home moms, what they do and how they do it:  Please Unfollow Me.

Because that’s what I’m about.