It's a Jungle Out There and a Zoo in Here: Run Your Home Business without Letting It Overrun You (Paperback)

by Cheryl Demas (Author) "In between cheering for Billy Jean King and singing "I Am Woman," I went to college and graduated with a double major in math and..." (more)
Key Phrases: traditional workplace, Wild Animals, Martha Stewart, New Year (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Erma Bombeck's humor meets Jean Chatzky's business sense in this practical guide to juggling a home-based business and a family. Who better than the founder of WAHM.com, the highly popular Web site for work-at-home moms, and author of a widely-read column and cartoon about home office life to give effective advice about balancing a career and a family? In IT'S A JUNGLE OUT THERE AND A ZOO IN HERE, Cheryl Demas relays helpful and hilarious anecdotes about her own experiences leaving the Jungle (workplace) and entering the Zoo (home office). Readers will discover how to plan based on personal circumstances; avoid scams; set up a workable home office and promote a business; juggle children and work demands; and more. Filled with Cheryl's popular cartoons, this book is every working mother's best friend.

About the Author
Cheryl Demas lives in Folsom, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Business Plus (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446679720
• ISBN-13: 978-0446679725
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,101,938 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Laugh, May 19, 2003

By A Customer

I must admit, Cheryl is certainly funny. There is plenty to learn and think about while reading her book. I am almost for sure it will be a huge hit once the word gets out and am frankly surprised by it not going huge sooner. Her wit is quick and slightly off at times but makes me feel good and hopeful for the future. There are so many work at home books on the market today that it is hard to find one moms - or even females - can connect to. This one is a winner. It does not have all of the answers but it sure has impacted my way of thinking. The one thing that is often overlooked in these types of books is exactly what is one supposed to do with children - really practical doable suggestions that work for more than an hour at a time. I find myself feeling gulity and drained when trying to juggle home duties and "home work" with kids underfoot. The Pros and Cons in the book are even light hearted but as she says, a con is "Your children may see the bad side of business too - the stress and the headaches. When you work at home, you can't use your commute time to decompress." This is so true and then I find the questions overwhelming as whether or not I am trying to do the best thing for my family - and my own sanity. Every summer I try to work at home and end up giving up. Maybe there is a better time than others to try? It's worth the money just for the humor. My other recommendation for a little more serious book and specific information for success - but certainly not dull - is: Why Aren't You Your Own Boss," by Paul and Sarah Edwards.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Get!!, May 8, 2003

By	"kathleen1030" (Hopkins, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This book, "It's a Jungle Out There and a Zoo in Here" by Cheryl Demas is a must have for anyone making the decision to work at home. There are quite a few books out there that tell you how to work at home but I found most of them dry and quite dull. Cheryl finds a way to give tons of information, humor, and ispiration all rolled into one.
Cheryl takes the questions and worries we all have and gives advice and suggestions on how to conquer them in an intelligent manner. Her stories are great and really help to put things in perspective. I would highly reccommend this book to anyone who is working at home or thinking about doing so.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wahmmy!, May 29, 2003

By	Ange (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews

Cheryl Demas has written a great book for work at home parents. As a work at home mom myself and the webmaster of a site for work at home parents, I found the book an interesting and light-hearted take on the ups and downs of working at home. If you're a WAH parent or you're thinking of becoming one, this is a must-read. Veteran WAHPs will see the truth on nearly every page, and potential WAHPs will have realistic expectations of the WAH lifestyle.