The Maxwell Family

Adding a home business to an already full schedule seems insane to some people, yet when I refer back to my posted goals and purpose, it makes perfect sense. In addition to extra funds for curriculum and field trips, a home business helps us achieve our educational goals, too. Preparing children to live productively in a world that contradicts much of what we believe is no easy challenge. Running a business offered training in real world situations that I have yet in over 20 years of homeschooling to find in a textbook. It put feet to what we were learning.

Managing our time isn’t an option. If we don’t manage it, someone else will. One homeschool family knew this principle well and created a business by offering time management tools to help others. We all have our gifts, and they are given to us to share.

Take a look at what the Maxwell Family has created with their gifts at their website, Titus 2. You’ll find many resources to help you redeem the time, along with several free downloads at http://www.titus2.com/master-lists.php

Now that many of the Maxwell children have grown and graduated from their homeschool, their on the job training in entrepreneurship has resulted in several new businesses:

• Christopher (31) runs a photography business, creates and sells Scripture Prints and helps with their web design business;
• Joseph (21)and John (19) run their own . Joseph also programmed two of the software apps the family offers online.
• Sara (28) graduated in 2000 and helps with the family business, keeps up their blog, and writes some amazing homeschool friendly books called the Moody Family Series.

I’d say this family has embraced the entrepreneurial lifestyle in a big way! Visit their website and learn more about this amazing family and what they do at  http://www.titus2.com/about.htm

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Published at the end of this post is this letter written to all the ‘customers’ of Aaron Academy. This letter is proof that the families that sign up with Aaron Academy are far more than ‘customers’. It’s a shining example of a family business that truly expresses their faith.

David and Becky Longoria started Aaron Academy 11 years ago with a heart’s desire to serve the homeschool community in a tangible way. In TN, it’s the law that homeschool families register with what we call “umbrella schools” or a Church Related School. There are many ways that an umbrella school can serve and protect their registered  families, but many agencies simply collect the money and file the papers. The Longorias  had a bigger vision how the homeschool family could be served by an organization of this type.

David and Becky Longoria do much more than simply file the required paperwork, as evidenced by this letter sent from “Becky’s Desk” to their registered families. I can personally attest that every time I talk with them, they make me feel like family, like a true friend. It’s who they are and it’s reflected in how they do business with everyone.

It hasn’t been easy for them, starting a business like this is complicated and very demanding. However, their passion to serve homeschooling families was blessed by God and He has been faithful in some amazing ways every step of the journey.  They now have a large building on a main thoroughfare just outside of downtown Nashville, complete with many tutorials and one of the best developed homeschool sports programs in the country. Think about it – their sign for homeschooling is prominent and right up  there with the likes of the Holiday Inn and Trinity Broadcasting.

I know riches hasn’t been one of the perks of this business, but I do know they love their work. Every day was a walk of faith from the beginning, and it is still hard work but it’s been worth it.  Now they are one of the largest umbrella schools in the state and have blessed many, many families in more ways than I’m sure even they won’t know until they meet the Lord. They live the dream of having their own business doing what they love, and serving the Lord by serving others from their heart.

This is the letter I received today, as a ‘customer’ (and may I add a very loyal one!) to Aaron Academy. I hope it inspires you, too, to go before the Lord and ask Him how you can reflect Him in your entrepreneurial pursuits. Talk about it with your children…as they are coming in AND going out…

(written as “From Becky’s Desk”)

In the Palm of His Hand:

Periodically, well known scripture verses will leap off the page, challenging, convicting, and enlightening its readers.

This type of revelation happened to me last week as I was studying the Word, specifically the Book of John. The words and message from chapter 10 verse 29, made me think critically about my faith in God and His ability to sustain Himself as Lord through my unbelief.

Personally, I have experienced many changes in my walk with the Lord, my relationship with my family, the growth of Aaron Academy, and my own struggles of contentment. As an employer I have spoken to and dealt with many families who have lost their jobs or have struggled financially during this past year. This breaks my heart, and I sense the urgency to reach out to these families and show them that God is in control. All of these trials stem from a society that considers good evil, and evil good. Family values are disregarded because we have lost sight of our Creator.

As parents, home educators, we wonder how we can change this mindset and establish a better future for our students, our children. We desire to give the best gifts to them, such as spiritual, educational, and future opportunities. Overall, we want what is best for them. Considering the love for our children and the calling we have from God to instruct them compels us to return to our loving Father who will always give His children good gifts.

In John 10:29 Jesus says, ‘My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” This scripture reminds us that our children belong to Jesus and we are in the palm of His hand. This should make our hearts sing for joy! We are secure in Jesus because He is our strength and peace today. Knowing we are snug in the palm of His hand reveals how much he cares for us. Let us remember what Hebrews 6:18 says, “It is impossible for God to lie.” Thus, we learn that He will provide for us and we can trust Him.

Embracing these truths, let us stand, facing our future with peace in our hearts and a renewed faith in God. The staff and I have the honor of praying for you, our parents and current members. We pray blessings, provisions, and peace for each and every one of you as you endeavor to begin another year instructing, ministering, and teaching your children. We would count it a privilege to put your need(s) in our prayer book and lift them before the Lord each day. Together we will stand and believe God for answered prayers, knowing his hand will never tire!

Remember, this is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

You can view Aaron Academy and the services they provide on their website at http://aaronacademy.com/

Please note: This post was in no manner solicited or paid for by Aaron Academy.

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If you think their success crowds out their other studies, Karen made the news for being one of the few from her area to make it to the national Bible Bee competition. As committed Christians, they enjoy giving kits and supplies to missionaries in other countries to help teach sewing to the locals.

I hope this interview will inspire you to consider starting a family business as part of your homeschool. The skills these girls have learned cannot be found in any textbook! Remember them when making your Christmas gift list this year.

Can you tell us a little about your family?

We are two sisters, age 10 and 12, who live in rural OK.  We have been homeschooled all our lives, and we enjoy the flexibility and family togetherness that comes with that.  We have a strong Christian faith and desire to serve God in all aspects of our lives.  Living in the country gives us lots of opportunity to learn practical life skills.  Our dad is a university professor in a town about half an hour away.

What homeschool curriculum do you use? We do a lot of unit studies.  We used KONOS in the past and now we create our own studies.  Our favorite topic to study is American History.  Mama tries to include a lot of hands-on learning.

What/Who inspired the idea for your business? When we were trying to come up with ideas of something we could sell to earn some money we thought about making crafts.  As we talked about it with our mom we decided that if we sold kits to make the crafts then kids could learn a skill and have a fun product.  We noticed that kids didn’t seem to be sewing as much as they had in past generations.  So we decided to create kits that would teach hand sewing skills through a simple craft.

Are you comfortable sharing any of your financial details? Such as, did you use your own money to start the business, or obtain a loan from a relative, and have you regained your investment yet? Do you have specific financial goals you hope to reach in the next 1-3 years? Do you have specific plans for your earnings? (such as college fund, car, charity, etc) Our first sewing kits were made from items we already had on hand at home.  We’ve been blessed to receive donations of fabric, trims, buttons and bluejeans from folks who want to encourage our business efforts.  We have been diligent to reinvest in the business to cover any expenses that come up.  40% of our earnings goes back into the business.  20% goes to each of us as owners and the remaining 20% is tithed to a missions savings fund.
When we first started the business we focused on getting more kids interested in sewing, as well as trying to earn some money.  As things have grown we’ve also come to see our sewing kits as outreach tools.  We have found out about some missionaries who teach sewing to women in the local villages.  We are saving up for a short term visit to Honduras to work with them.

Who in your family is involved in your business, and what part do they play? Our mom is a retired accountant.  She uses her background to help us learn the skills needed to manage a business.  She also works with us in putting the kits together.

What online services have you used-that you liked…and didn’t like. We use Paypal for receiving payments for orders from our website.  Recently we started using E-junkie to manage the shopping cart and the affiliate program.  E-junkie is reasonably priced and seems to be working well so far.

How do you schedule your busy day? Any time mgmt tips? During the school year we try to complete all of our schoolwork by early afternoon.  When it’s time to work on the business we plan ahead and try to make a batch of 20 kits at a time.  If we have all the packaging printed and trimmed in advance then we can usually put together 20 kits in about 2 hours.  We try to keep 15 – 20 of each item in inventory so we can fill orders quickly.

What do you like best about having your own business? The best part of having our own business is being able to earn our own money.  We enjoy the reward of doing something ourselves and getting paid for our efforts.

What’s your biggest struggle in your business? The biggest challenge comes in balancing time spent on the business with other things we are involved in or want to do.

Building a website is often the biggest undertaking for new business owners. Would you share a little about your experience building a website? We are fortunate to have a good friend who is our website manager.  She has taken care of the technical requirements and offered suggestions on design and layout.  Our biggest decisions have been deciding what to say about the business on the site and how to gain more exposure.

What advice would you give other families/individuals looking at starting their own business?
Go for it!  Apply what you know.  Be creative.  Identify your niche.  Find mentors to learn from.  Be financially responsible.
Also, find people and organizations that promote young entrepreneurs.  Partner with them for education, encouragement and support.

Looking back, what would you have done differently? We think we could have had more growth through getting out and telling our story more to others.

Assuming you have achieved some element of success, exactly how long did it take you from the time you started until you felt your business began to “take off”? Six months after our business started we entered a statewide competition for new products and processes. We won first place in the elementary category and third place overall.  With a portion of the $750 prize money we had the website set up.  After that our products began to get more widespread exposure.  Through Internet connections we have shipped products to more than 20 states and overseas.

Thank you Weckler family, may you be blessed in your entrepreneurial journey! Visit their website at:  http://sewingkits4kids.com/

You can see more videos on their website, or do a search for “sewing kits 4 kids” on YouTube.

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If you homeschool then you already have some good experience with working together as a family. I’ve heard parents say they don’t homeschool because they would kill each other. I’m sure we all have our moments, but I think I can speak for most homeschoolers when I say we generally enjoy being with our children. I’m not saying if you don’t homeschool you don’t enjoy your children, but it’s already a natural part of our day, so working a business together as a family would seem to be a natural transition. So you would think.

Maybe it’s the time pressure that business can bring, or it could be the money thing, or a host of other excuses. There is no question that working a business with children can be frustrating. There. I said it. I know that there are many character building lessons for children that can be developed when you work a business with them, but I think it’s more a refining device for us. So, keeping in mind our children are really just on loan to us from the Lord, training them also trains us.

I guess it all boils down to loving one another more than ourselves. It may be very difficult and hard work, but the rewards far exceed any monetary gain. It may also be a way to pay off some debt or take that family mission trip or vacation. Whatever your motivation, here are some ways to survive the “Family Business”:

1. The purpose-filled life business. If you don’t already have a business, try to choose a business that helps others, one that gives your family a sense of purpose. This may sound idealistic, but I’m convinced that if you sit down as a family and pray about something you can all do to serve others you’re sure to come up with something. It may not make you rich, but if it’s a need in the marketplace, there will be business. Resist the urge to give your services away, unless of course your family can afford it. You are thinking of an entrepreneurial venture that does good, not a ministry (at least right now).

2. Assign work according to ability. Sit down together and list all the tasks that need to be done and what abilities or talents are needed to accomplish them. Then discuss what talents and abilities each family member has. Make a list of the positive qualities each member has and be generous with the adjectives. Keep it positive. Let each family member add their own weaknesses and/or tasks they absolutely detest. Do not mention anyone else’s weaknesses except your own to keep the peace. Make encouragement the rule. Oh, one more: remember that children are children – not miniature adults.

3. Respect each other. When you live with each other 24/7, it’s easy to get too comfortable with each other. It’s not hard to be courteous to people at church that you hardly know, but will find it easy to be abrupt with those you love most. Respect is a good habit to develop if you haven’t already.

Don't forget to take much needed breaks!

4. Pay children for the work they do. If you get paid, they should be paid if they contributed. Taking children for granted when you work at home is one of the reasons many adults who grew up in a family business want nothing to do with it. If they kept the baby happy and the house clean so you were able to work, there should be some reward. Yes, families help each other out, but if there is a business involved, a worker deserves their wages. Payments should be made in a timely manner and not be withheld for reasons not related to the work. Hope deferred makes a heart sick…

5. Delegate a portion of your family income for something special. It may be a charity or mission that is dear to your heart, or maybe a mission trip for your entire family. You could use it as your field trip fund to go places ordinarily out of your price range or a special vacation. I’m sure you can think of something!

6. Have a set time that your business is ‘closed’. It’s too easy to work 24 hours a day when you work at home. When you work for yourself, the work is never done. Your children will soon resent the family business if it always consumes your attention. Have at least one night a week as “Family Night” and make it special. If you have several children, make a point to have regular one on one, or one with Mom AND Dad’s sole attention.

7. Set frequent goals with rewards they can look forward to. Going out for pizza after a job everyone worked hard doing for weeks makes finishing it a celebration.

8. Try to keep things light and joyful. If the atmosphere has been stressed, or everyone is getting tired and cranky but there is work still to be done, take an energy break. Set the timer for 15-30 minutes and have a nutritious snack do the opposite of what you have been doing. In other words, if you have been sitting doing a repetitious job, get up and take a walk, or go shoot some baskets or just have fun for a few. If you have been up and around working physically, have everyone get comfortable and rest for a few and encourage each other with what they are all doing right. Put some praise music on if you just can’t take a break.

9. Invest in your workspace. Again, keeping your work area light and joyful, bright and clean organized. It pays for itself when the work area is pleasant. If you are on your feet a lot, there are special mats you can buy that cushion your stance. There are shoes that are better for your feet that you can buy. A stereo and some good worship music can make all the difference, too. Keeping things organized sometimes only takes a set of drawers or a new cabinet. Headphones that WORK are nice if you are one the phone much.

10. Accept each other for who they are, and know there will be times everyone will not get along. Make it a family and business rule to never let the sun go down on a disagreement. Parents set the example here. Try to make it a habit to begin and/or end each day with a brief time of prayer for each other. Not a prayer for the business, or more customers, or that the equipment will hold up, but for each other. It’s hard to stay mad at someone you pray for daily.

If you homeschool then you probably already have a list of your own that keeps things running smoothly. Adding a business to the mix can really bring out the best…and the worst… in all of us. That’s our human condition. It’s how we handle it that are the lessons we are really teaching our children.

Some other resources to help you on your journey:

Mom Advice encourages parents that they can indeed homeschool and run a home business, but not with out organizational skills. She gives some advice in her article, Homeschooling and Home Business, and offers some tangible tools including a printable planner and other downloads you can use (free) at: http://www.momadvice.com/resources/downloads.aspx

Entrepreneur.com offers an article, Running a Successful Family Business From Home that tells us 6 ways that 5 family businesses have made it work.

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I just noticed Amazon’s Web Stores and thought I’d mention it because it looks like it could be an ideal way for families to start a business with very low overhead. For as little as $10/month, you can design and stock your store with items from Amazon or items of your own. I haven’t actually gone through the entire process, so you’ll have to let me in on it’s pros and cons if you try it.

Now, this isn’t the same Amazon store that you may have seen in the past that affiliates can sign up for and post ready made code for free. This is very professional looking and (unfortunately) isn’t free. However, we have found out that FREE often doesn’t offer very substantial returns.

As always, Amazon has outdone itself. Check it out at: http://webstore.amazon.com/

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1. Fine-tune your website. The expected 49%  increase in online shopping is encouraging enough to make double sure your website is fine-tuned and ready to go.
2. Hire temporary help. Interestingly, budget pricing and sales-watching were not considered during our nation’s time of economic recovery. What was suggested was to utilize the high unemployment rate to snag some quality temporary help to give the best possible customer service. Get creative and utilize the exceptional talent that is available right now—you’ll be helping them while they help you.
3. Beef up your customer services. Be sure your customer service is absolutely the best it can be, adding 800 numbers and customer chat capabilities to your website if possible. Email alerts, fast shipping and consistent availability of hard to find items are good ideas, too.
4. Social Networking. Facebook isn’t just for students anymore. With over 300 million active users, the over-35 demographic is the fastest growing. This doesn’t look like a short-lived trend, and a Facebook-Twitter presence has  become as essential as a good web page in essential business practices.

Open Forum believes that the 2009 holiday season will be markedly different from last year. We all know that predictions aren’t always correct, it’s always good business to be ready for the busiest season of the year.

Read the entire article here: http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/money/article/what-customers-want-for-the-holidays-julia-rogers

An important side note for Christian families:

A Timely Homeschool Entrepreneur Discussion Topic:

We always try to pass along  tidbits to help your home business, but our main objective here at HSE is to encourage and highlight the benefits of mentoring through a family business. It’s so easy to get caught in the undertow of the commercial aspect of the holiday season, with or without a family business to run. Discuss with your children how your family really wants to experience the holidays, and how you feel about this time of year – and what you want your family/business to stand for. This is the season that most retailers prepare all year for. How should Christian entrepreneurs really respond to that? Set goals as a family that will reflect integrity over profit – and enter this season deliberately, before the whirlwind hits. It will be a lesson your children will carry with them for a lifetime.

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