Have you ever thought to yourself, “Is The Free Mama Movement legit?” You’re not alone!

I hope you have some crackers handy, mama, cause you might find this cheesy, BUT, I am SO THANKFUL for every single woman who puts her trust in me and The Free Mama Movement.

And since today is Thanksgiving in the US, I’ve been feeling all warm and fuzzy and thinking about all of you — especially what it feels like to be on the cusp on taking this leap, and wondering about the women who have already taken the plunge.

How do they come up with the money for the investment? How long does it take to make that investment back? What do their lives look like after they join?

Well, obviously, the moment someone enrolls in TFFM, rainbows and unicorns materialize around her and envelop her in a bubble of happiness that doesn’t allow anything bad to happen to her ever again. 

Or, you know, NOT. 

Actually, I thought it would be fun to take a deep dive and look closely at the life of one Free Mama so that you could see exactly how she made the decision to join, and what really happened afterwards. 

Meet Jill Overby, mom of three — including one with Type 1 diabetes. Jill had often looked for ways to supplement her income — Mary Kaye, and an MLM — but she simply found herself working loads of extra hours with very little to show for it. She certainly wasn’t making the kind of money that would let her quit her day job, working as a college career counselor at a high school half an hour from her home. 

[photo of Jill — she said she would send one.]

Plus, there was health insurance to consider — her husband is a freelancer, so the whole family relied on her job for coverage.

And yet. Jill desperately wanted to be home with her kids. Leaving her son in the care of others was terrifying — not everyone knows how to care for a child with Type 1 diabetes, and mistakes can truly be a matter of life or death. 

When Jill discovered The Free Mama Movement, and learned about the potential to be a virtual assistant, she was excited — but incredibly cautious. 

Health insurance was still an issue. And how could she invest money in a program and quit her job with no guaranteed income?

“I’m not a risk taker,” said Jill. So she dug into the free resources she could find, and even invested in a less expensive course that gave her some very basic information. 

But within a month or two, Jill knew she needed more. She needed more hands-on training, more of a community, more support as she built her business, and more ideas on how she could get clients in the door. 

So she took the plunge and enrolled in TFFM in July of 2018. In August, with encouragement from the Free Mama community, Jill reached out to a photographer friend who was tapped into several local networking groups for women entrepreneurs, joined her at an event — and had someone reach out to her for help almost immediately. 

At the same time, Jill was getting ready to go back to work in September, and going through the same stomachaches and stress sickness she endured every year when her husband said, “Well… what if you don’t go back to work?”

Jill reached out to her mom for advice. Like Jill, her mom is not a risk taker, but she didn’t view this step as a risk. “You’ve put a lot into this already,” her mother reminded her. “You’re seeing results. You’re on the way. I think you should go for it.”

With the support of two of the most important people in her life, Jill went all in. She gave notice to her principal — and then got the school to hire hire for a big project. She kept working through the course material and had a handful of clients before she finished. 

It took her a few months to build up to her current level of six retainer clients. She and her husband figured out the health insurance dilemma by getting on one of the exchanges, and her life today is relaxed — and rewarding. 

She’s at home when her kids need her. She’s present. And she’s contributing financially without the stress and anxiety of being away from home all day.

Today, Jill and her husband have plans to work through Kathryn Jones’ CF Design School so that they can add another high-paying, specialized skill to their business. Jill is looking into working as an OBM and taking on a more strategic role for her clients. She’s dreaming bigger than she ever did before, and when she thinks about the future, she’s excited, instead of overwhelmed. 

If you’re nervous about investing in yourself, you’re not alone. If you’ve wondered if The Free Mama Movement is legit, you’re not alone. And the good news is that with over 1000 mamas who have gone through the program, it’s likely that someone else struggled with the very same questions and anxiety. So post your questions, ask for advice — and talk to the people you trust.

I’d love to see you realize your dreams, which is why I have a special announcement coming tomorrow! Because even without rainbows and unicorns, being a Free Mama is pretty darn incredible. 

P.S. Don’t forget to watch your inbox for a super-special Free Mama announcement tomorrow!

P.P.S. Ready to take the leap and start today? Here’s the first step you need to take to start freelancing!