Work-At-Home Success is thrilled to share Gail Monaghan’s story about how she turned her love of cooking into a home-based career. Gail is the Wall Street Journal’s feature How To columnist. She began her career teaching cooking classes, writing cookbooks, and eventually she began making and selling scones and pastries to tea rooms in NYC.
1) How did you get started working from home?
After my children were born, I left my design business and got a professional cooking degree from to Peter Kump’s (now called the Institute of Culinary Education) in NYC, and eventually began holding classes at my own Manhattan loft after hosting cooking classes for friends and family.
2) How did you choose the work-at-home career you do?
I never saw myself in a 9 to 5 job, and the lack of freedom stifled me. I had always loved to cook and this is a career I just sort of fell into. I am not much of a planner so feel very lucky things worked out so well
3) How did you get started (basic initial steps)?
After cooking school I made Valentine Cookie Boxes for Dean and Deluca. Then just cookies once Valentine’s Day was behind me. Vis a vis my cooking classes, see answer #4
4) How did you get your first client or customer or job?
My very first cooking student was a famous artist (the mother of a friend of my daughter’s) who traded me art for classes in my kitchen. Vis a vis selling my baked goods, I went to Petrossian and other tea rooms, waiting to sell my products to them.
5) How do you market your business?
Social media, and marketing emails have made a world of difference when promoting my cooking classes, but also my television appearances. My segments on The Chew have also helped immensely.
6) What does your usual day look like?
Flexible. I love that I don’t have to go to the office and that I’m on my own time.
7) What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started?
That for me it’s WAY more fun to work from home. I LOVE the flexibility it provides and the ability to reinvent myself every day.
8) What advice would you give someone who wants to work from home?
You must have a certain amount of self-discipline. I know people who quit working at home because they said they were too easily distracted by phone calls, laundry, and whatever else. Also, it doesn’t work well for people who need EXTERNAL structure (a boss etc.).
Also, my children are grown. Although I also worked from home when they were small, it’s much easier now.
Website: GailMonaghan.com
Twitter : @gailmonaghannyc
Facebook: Gail Monaghan
Amazon Author Page: Gail Monaghan
