The Anti 9 to 5 Guide: Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube

As you might imagine, the fog of doom and gloom soon lifted, and I tapped into energy reserves I didn’t know existed.

For business-plan templates or free start-up advice, see the SCORE

these incredibly busy women are proof that you don’t need a trust fund or five years off to accomplish your goals. You just need to get started and stick with it.

To ensure I bring in new blood from time to time, I like to keep a Customer Wish List. To make your own Customer Wish List, ask yourself, If I could sell to any ten people or companies in the world, who would they be?

Look for unlikely places to work on your side project, like in your doctor’s waiting room or on the post office line.

Before you commit, be sure to Google past and current board members (usually listed on the organization’s website) to look for any red flags.

community outreach work “really good PR” for her business,

If you have a computer and an Internet connection, don’t overlook volunteering virtually for organizations in your neck of the woods or other states—a great option for those with limited time, transportation, or a disability that makes commuting tough. More and more nonprofit organizations are using volunteers who telecommute.

Keep a folder, scrapbook, or cigar box of any praise you receive for a job well done.