Oprah's Top Work at Home Picks

Kristie Tamsevicius

Want to learn more about working from home? In June of 2002 Oprah aired a show entitled, "How I Work from Home" featuring the inspiring stories of women who have turned their passions into booming home based businesses. Here are reviews of some of the top books that Oprah featured on her show.

= Mompreneurs Online: Using the Internet to Build Work-at-Home Success by Patricia Cobe and Ellen H. Parlapiano

They've really outdone themselves with this one! Mompreneurs is a MUST HAVE resource for anyone with a home-based business. Everyone from start-ups to savvy entrepreneurs will benefit from their practical advice on working from home. It covers everything from discovering your passion, finding the right business, telecommuting, marketing, and work-from-home survival tips. Their "slice of life" interviews with real work at home moms offer valuable insight into conquering the challenges of working from home. Keep this one
on your desktop for handy reference - you'll use it often!

= A View from the Tub: An Inspirational and
Practical Guide to Working from Home by Millie Szerman

It's like sitting down and having a conversation with someone who really understands what home business is like. Millie offers an honest look at the challenges that entrepreneurs face. She's really got it covered including everything from knowing if you've got what it takes, to dealing with family and friends. You'll learn the various reasons why people start their own businesses, and what kind of work from home careers are available. I LOVE her 5 W's to a business plan: What business you are in, Who your clients are, Where your market is, When you will break eve, and Why your
business will succeed. Simply brilliant! This book will however help you to determine if you have what it takes to work from home.

= The Entrepreneurial Parent
by Paul Edwards, Sarah Edwards and Lisa Roberts

Simply said, if you are a working parent, you've got to get this book! This book is BRILLIANTLY written - what a joy to read! Aside from the how to basics, you can tell that Paul and Sarah have really done their homework -- it's loaded with facts. This book features profiles of 111 entrepreneurs who spill the beans of what it's like in their careers including a job description, their industry insight, marketing tips, and top revenue streams. Paul and Sarah paint a real picture of what it's like to work from home. They show that entrepreneurs defined success in terms of quality of
life, rather than dollars earned. For many, it's a trade off that is well worth it for more time with the kids and a richer life. They offer extensive coverage of insurance options for the self-employed. Other topics include childcare options, how to handle summer vacations, and involving the family in your business.