Work At Home Success Story: Jenna Waites, Waites Business Architecture

This week’s Work-At-Home Success story comes from Jenna Waites of Waites Business Architecture

Jenna Waites small business consultant who helps overworked and overwhelmed business owners create and implement easy to follow, step by step, blueprints to streamline every area of their business.  She focuses on ways to increase revenue and efficiency.

Her passion is to structure businesses so that owners can spend time on what they love doing, instead of working 20 hour days, 7 days a week. Jenna has most recently been instrumental in the successful launch of 2 start-ups, in addition to increasing the revenue of an established internet based company by over 70% in just 1 year.

To get a free assessment of the health of your business by visiting Jenna Waites’ website

1) How did you get started working from home?
Not content in my career as an engineer, I just quit not knowing what I was going to do. I ended up getting a job in new home sales during the height of the market and when it burst I was one of many that was laid off. During that time I had met a real estate investor who opened my eyes to the world of self-employment. So with no job and not wanting to figure out another career, I threw myself into learning everything I could about real estate investing determined not to have to get another day job.

2) How did you choose the work-at-home career you do?
My two businesses sort of fell in my lap; I wasn’t looking to actually start a business. I started by studying, researching and seeking counsel of experts to learn as much as I could. I would then just implement everything I learned and tweak to replicate the successes I read about. Soon others in my circle started to notice what I was doing and the results I got and wanted to hire me to do the same for them.

I found however that having a marketable skill did not make a good business that I could grow and found myself working 20 hour days, 7 days a week (literally!). This led me to study business and operational processes. I was then able to convince a couple of my friends who had successful businesses to let me play and see if I could make them better. With wild success there, my current business was born.

3) How did you get started (basic initial steps)?
I started with a crazy amount of research. I read everything I could get my hands on and attended local meetups and trainings on the subjects that would assist me. I also recruited the help of those I knew in business (and some I didn’t know, but found a way to meet) who were gave me advice and support.

4)  How did you get your first client or customer or job?
My first clients were friends of mine, who basically handed their businesses over to me to play in to see how I could make them better. Luckily I did a great job and was able to make significant improvements to prove the techniques I used worked.

5) How do you market your business?
Until recently it’s been all referrals; I did no marketing in my first few years. I’m now looking to grow my business and am stepping into the world of marketing. I am working on a social media presence with educational resources and more in depth webinar trainings to explain to more small business owners the power of well implemented and documented procedures and process systems.

6) What does your usual day look like?
In the mornings after I work out, I work on client projects. Then then spend about a half hour to check in on social media. This is followed by creative time for my business: writing, videos, new training ideas, etc. I always lag a bit in the middle of the day, so this the time I use to relax, read or nap. In the late afternoon I focus on client work and another check in with social media. Evenings are spent on either on research or tasks that do not require full brain power that I do while I have a show or music on in the background. Lastly I create my to-do list for the next day, write my gratitudes and read prior to bed.

7) What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started?
I’ve always been of the mindset to have no regrets, as every “mistake” was a lesson that brought me to where I am and sets me up for greater things in the future. To pick one thing, would probably be that currently, though referrals have been amazing, it would have liked to have made an online presence from the beginning to make my current marketing and growth efforts smoother.

8) What advice would you give someone who wants to work from home?
The hardest thing for us to do is change habits, especially when we are very busy, as it is much easier to just continue doing what you’ve always done since it comes as second nature. Even if you know it doesn’t produce the outcome you want. The most important thing to overcome this is to create documented processes for the work you are doing and to reference and use that document EVERY time to ensure you develop new habits that will help you attain your goals…working more efficiently, increasing revenue, creating fanatical clients, etc.

To connect further with Jenna, visit

Website URL: JennaWaites.com

Twitter Handle: @jennawaites

Facebook Page: Jenna Waites

LinkedIn Page: Jenna Waites