Home Business Connection Magazine/August 2002

Making a Profit and a Difference

By: Bridey M. Orth

In searching for a viable home-based business, it's easy to find yourself paying more attention to the income potential in an opportunity than anything else, especially when there are so many ways to make money from home.

People often cite the need for money as their reason for turning to the home-based business industry, and that usually dictates their search for an opportunity. But successful entrepreneurs seem to agree that the right combination of profitability, a marketable product or service and a solid management team behind the opportunity is when a home-based business wannabes should be focusing on.

Linda Shaw wants to add one more item to that list: a fulfilling business. It happens to thousands of people every days: they go to an unfulfilling job, one they work just to collect the paycheck at the end of the week. Linda maintains it's possible to escape that life for one that is enriching, satisfying and, yes, profitable.

A BLESSING IN DISGUISE

One day Linda, a resident of North Carolina, went to work only to discover she was going to be laid off from her 13-year career in the engineering department of a machine tool company. She was given six weeks notice before the layoff and to this day maintains that being downsized was "a blessing."

"I knew I didn't want to look for another full-time job where I'd drive to and spend my life," explains Linda, noting that she had the advantage of having severance pay to put towards a new venture. "I was ready to make an investment in a career of fulfillment and enjoyment."

Another factor behind Linda's search for an at-home business was her husband's annual six weeks of vacation time. "We've always love to travel," she says. "We've been to 21 countries in 10 years, but he always had more vacation time than I did. I had to scramble to take off the time, so I started thinking about ways I could have a more flexible schedule."

THE BEST OF BUSINESS

After many searches online for the right opportunity Linda found one that intrigued her. "I nibbled at several but either I didn't get a response or I got an answering machine. When I called KidzArt®, the CEO answered the phone," she says, recalling the difference it made to hear a live voice right away. "That day I got off the phone and told everyone I'd just decided what I want to do."

KidzArt® is a business opportunity based in New Braunfels, Texas for anyone interested in bringing enrichment programs to children. According to company statements, "The KidzArt® program includes inspiring drawing classes and a wide variety of art project that are complimentary and fun."

They set out on a mission to bring the "gift of art" to kids and adults and as a result created the business opportunity to achiever their goals. It was just what Linda was looking for. "I like the idea of doing something creative and working with kids," she says. This program breaks down a drawing into something kids (and adult beginners) can understand. It demystifies the process."

KidzArt® business owners go into schools for after school programs, visit senior citizen groups and cater to home schooling groups as well. The company prides itself on offering a "very portable" system that can go anywhere, giving business owners freedom and flexibility to teach their classes in a variety of venues.

After her last week of work, Linda headed off to Texas for a three-day training program. She learned more about the business and unique program and felt strongly that this was going to be great for her. "Before I went to the training, I started talking to people about the concept behind the business and I never got a negative response," she recalls. "After the training, I decided there's no reason why it shouldn't work."

FINDING FULFILLMENT

In January of this year Linda launched her KidzArt® business and by April she had a class scheduled every afternoon of the week, keeping her mornings free just as she'd hoped. She says sometimes she spends two to three mornings a week making contacts and "digging up business" and other mornings she spends drawing so she can provide examples for her students.

"I love it," she says with enthusiasm. "It surprised me too. I didn't do this just because I loved kids; I wanted to give back to them with confidence and wisdom. And they're so loving in return."

One boy in her first class told her, "It's like somebody gave me the key and I opened the box and now I know how." It's comments like that one that motivate Linda every day.

During her last six-week session she had 37 kids in an after school program. On the seventh week, Linda put together the "Big Art Crawl" where she hung all the kids' artwork on the school's cafeteria walls and invited parents to come and see what their children had been doing all that time. "They were simply blown away," she says, referring to the parents' reaction. "After the art crawl, I felt a real peace about this."

That creative idea also paid off because it got many parents even more interested in keeping their kids in Linda's program. Word is spreading about the KidzArt® program as Linda just received a request form her area's school district to bring the program to all five elementary schools in the fall. For the summer, she's already booked for four summer camp volunteers for an underprivileged kids camp in her area.

"If you don this with an attitude that you'll make it, then you will," she shares. "I'm my own boss and I'm so glad I can do this. I've got a lot of freedom to run the business my way, I have my mornings free, I have plenty of time to travel with my husband and I have a career that is fulfilling."

Click here for more information on KidzArt ®

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