Solo-Entrepreneurs start their businesses for many reasons: personal satisfaction, success on your own terms, the ability to be your own boss, corporate layoffs and, if you are like many, to be more available for your family.
The day I found out I was pregnant with my son; I knew that if there was a way to manage working from home, I was determined to investigate further.
Not all parents are in a position to work from a home office or have the circumstances to start a home-based business, so for those that can, we should really feel privileged.
Some of my friends, who work in the corporate field, are bound by financial obligations, and are unable to make the transition because of their field, and as parents they really battle with the daycare dilemma. It is just not possible for them to make other arrangements, and although many work environments are gradually making the change to accommodate family through work/life balance programs, the fact remains that many parents are away from home and family for great periods of time.
So I personally consider it a true blessing to be able to work in my home and be accessible for further family connectedness.
However that being said, home-based business owners know that the 100 hour work week is not uncommon.
You have to balance your work schedule, family obligations, household duties, personal responsibilities and, of course, some free time would be nice too.
As a result, there is the dilemma of always fitting work in when you are not busy with your home life.
Is it possible to gracefully balance work and family life?
Yes.
I have two children, current ages, 2 � and 7 months old.
My husband works full time and I have a Small Business that I have been operating for nearly three years.
I admit, it is a struggle.
But ask yourself �Am I meant to be a worker bee or a happy person?�
Do I want to raise happy healthy children and be a part of a loving relationship with my mate?
Do I want to be successful on my own terms?
If you have answered yes to these three questions, as I am sure you have, then there are basic boundaries that need to be set.
And, from experience, if you do not �step back� and reevaluate what matters � then one day, after a Mommy Meltdown � you will wonder �Why�.
So please review these few suggestions and look for the helpful resources at the end of this article.
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Keep a very organized schedule of activities.
As a business owner working from home, it will be essential to have a daytimer, wall calendar or online agenda of both your personal and business schedule.
For example, I use all three.
My daytimer has one full page to represent each calendar day.
I have drawn a line down the middle of the page and one column reads �business appointments� and the other �personal appointments�.
That way, I can easily see what my day is balanced with.
A conference call at 11:00 am would not work if my son had a doctor�s appointment at 11:15 am.
I also have a wall calendar in my office that is strictly used for business.
That way, if I am on the phone with a client, at a moments glance, I can see what my activities are for the month.
This calendar tells me when invoices should be sent, when certain projects are due, and gives a basic overview of my availability.
Then finally, I have an online calendar that allows me to keep digital notes and reminders for meetings, projects or deadlines.
As soon as I log on, I am reminded of my tasks for that day or of �special notes� I need to include in an agenda.
Yes this takes a lot of preparation, but this system works well and it ensures that I am vividly aware of my responsibilities both daily and monthly.
It also makes certain that I do not mix business obligations with family needs.
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Be Picky
There are many advantages of operating your own business in regards to your schedule and your environment.
One is that you now have the ability to set your own hours, according to the most optimal time for you.
Second is that you have the ability to work with only with those you choose to.
When you start your business, you may end up working with clients out of necessity for income, credibility or experience, but when it comes down to it, how much will you learn or gain if your creativity and your energy is lost in a un-ideal working relationship?
If you are like me, it took a couple of �bad clients� for me realize how not only my energy, but my drive was depleted when working for someone who was not my ideal client.
I felt resentful for being treated badly, and I lost respect for myself as President of the company, because I should have been able to enforce boundaries better than I was.
So even if you are only starting out, don�t jump at the first opportunity that presents itself.
You are working from home to have a more flexible and graceful lifestyle.
Working with demanding, un-flexible, and uncaring clients will not allow you to be passionate about your business.
And since you are at home, you will no doubt bring that unhappiness to the household.
So be picky about who you accept as a client.
Be specific about your working hours, your fees, and your working style.
And always define it in a Written Agreement or a State of Grace Document.
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Laugh and Giggle
As you know, small children can a great source of laughter and of frustration.
However it is better to laugh than cry.
As a home based business there is no avoiding the fact that your children may want to imitate you.
Perhaps pounding away on your laptop, coloring your business documents or figuring out what the shredder does.
Consider the results of a study conducted of over 12,000 children aged 4-12.
One of the questions asked by researchers was �If you could have anything you wanted from your parents, what would you like most?�
87% said they wanted more time with their Mom and Dad.
Your children crave your attention, so try to remember the lasting benefits of your being present and being happy to be there.
Of course it can be frustrating when you have pressing deadlines and phone calls to make and your toddler simply will not go down for their nap � but long term, you and your client will not remember that you had to reschedule an appointment or send the project out 1 hour late, but your child will always remember how you treated them.
So laugh and giggle at the frustration, it will serve you and your family much better if you view the positive outcome of your temporary sacrifices.
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Don�t Be Afraid to Ask for Help � Know your Limitations
It probably seems that since we are now working from home and are �available� for our children, that we would have more free time.
We no longer have that lengthy commute, the long days at the office, or the time spent in traffic jams.
However, working from home also means that we no longer have the support of the corporate marketing team, the administrative assistant, or the traveling sales team.
Therefore, we are responsible for marketing to and selling to new clients, handling our administrative requirements and making those hard �Presidential� decisions.
We are bound to increase our workload.
That being said, it is important that we recognize our limitations.
There are a few options to consider.
Ask for help from a family member; to help you run some errands, do a load of laundry or spend some playtime with your children.
Or perhaps you would consider an �au pair� (a student who exchanges room, board and two college classes for 35 hours of daycare services in your home).
Also, you and another �work at home parent� could exchange one to days a week of looking after each other�s kids.
You could enroll your children in a day camp for the summer months, an arts and crafts program for two mornings a week or perhaps an in-home or out-of-home daycare situation for 1 or 2 days a week.
Either way, it is important to keep in mind your original intent for being a �work at home parent�.
No matter how busy you get, remember that asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but of empowerment.
You are spending 50-75% more time with your children, and that is the greatest reward, not only to you � but to your family and most importantly to your precious children.
Small Children � Small Home Based Business � Making it Work For YOU!
Resources:
Seeking Balance � help for moms who seek balance in work and life.
http://www.seekingbalance.com
Natural Remedies for Children and Adults -
http://www.nativeremedies.com/brightspark_for_add.shtml
Mom�s on the Go � Kids on the Go -
http://www.mom-co.com/nav/join/
Women Can Do Anything -
http://www.wcda.ca/
E-women - offering the essential woman everything she needs to live and love! -
http://www.e-women.com
Home-Based Working Moms� is a professional association and online community of parents who work at home and those who would like to.
http://www.hbwm.com
