Being a mom in business is, in my opinion, one of the hardest things to do and be. In order to succeed at all, it’s essential to be organized, build a support system, and be honest about your schedule.
Ten years into my career, married with a seven-year-old son, and here are my top advice for getting it right. I’ve been running my wedding and event business since August 2007, and it’s been a land of learning curves.
BE SMART AND AVOID LETTING IT OVERWHELM YOU.
On some days, there may be so many tasks, commitments, and deadlines that it will feel impossible to complete everything in the time allotted. Don’t give up.
Even though I adore technology, I adore a handwritten list. I compose my weekly “to do” list in an A5 page per day journal on the Friday prior. I write down everything I have on my mind and in my calendar on Sunday’s page of the weekly list; I find this exercise to be quite peaceful and it enables me to put work aside for the weekend.
I review the list on Monday morning, write realistic tasks for the day, check them off as I go, and then write the list for the following day.
so forth.
Your attention is on the things that need to be done, and you can plainly see what you’ve accomplished so far today.
WEIGHT HOURS!
Procrastination is a difficult vice to conquer, but I overcome it by scheduling “power hours.” For an hour, make a realistic task list, set your phone to “do not disturb,” log out of social media, and get to work.
Spend 15 minutes at the end of the hour catching up on calls and emails before repeating. You’ll be surprised by what you can accomplish!
Repeat after a 15-minute break.
BUILD IN TIME FOR YOU
It’s easy for mothers running their own businesses to focus exclusively on their customers, but you need to make time for yourself. I’m sure you’re thinking, “When in the world am I going to fit it in?” Wrong! An occasional hour spent doing something you enjoy outside of work makes you feel better and helps you to focus.
You could want to attend a class at the gym, meet up with a friend for coffee, or get your hair done during working hours.
Also, don’t feel bad. Taking periodic breaks will increase your productivity. … taking a break from work during “regular” office hours always makes me happy!
DISCONNECT YOUR PHONE AFTER HOURS
Don’t waste your time; it is highly valuable.
I was always glued to my phone, checking my emails and social media. I had a reality check six months ago and set my phone to “do not disturb” between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. Since then, I have avoided checking my phone during these times. What a change it has brought about! Although it required some weeks of self-control, I now love this practice and will not stop doing it.
In the evenings, I’m more at ease, I’m genuinely present with my loved ones, and I get better sleep. … And what really needs to wait till the morning?
SEE TO IT THAT YOUR KIDS UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WORK
Explain to your kids that hard effort and saving money pay off in the end and allow you to enjoy delights along the road.
and that’s why you’re in business.
I explain to my son why I work in the wedding and events sector to his understanding, and he waves me off. I work many weekends, have nighttime appointments, and work on one-off jobs, but it also allows me to pay for us to take a trip of a lifetime and spend time with family.
It balances out that certain weeks the balance will be centered on your business and other weeks it will be centered on your kids and family.
In the end, I’m happy that my son views me as a strong, independent working mother and role model.
COLLABORATE WITH OTHER MOTHERS IN BUSINESS
It might be overwhelming to balance nursery, pre-school, and school hours with breaks from classes. Get to know the parents on the school run so you can share childcare if you become friends with them and get along well. This way, you won’t be struggling to handle everything alone.
My friends and I frequently watch one another’s kids so that we can both go to work. This results in happy kids playing, mom duties completed, and work tasks completed the following day when your buddy returns the favor.
Also read: Work-life balance is threatened by excessive workloads
CONTROLLING THE TIMING REQUIREMENTS
When you have your own business on top of a life that already involves a spouse, child(ren), friends, and family, it might seem daunting, especially if you’re trying to be “excellent” at everything.
How are you going to balance the conflicting priorities, I wonder?
My business and my life have greatly benefited from my engagement with a business coach and mentor. Once you’ve found a fantastic one, you can be open and honest about your strengths and limitations and create attainable goals for the coming week or month.
Nothing boosts drive and confidence like having a good person in your company to whom you routinely report. Since then, my business has grown significantly.
A lot of delegation
“If I do it myself, I can be sure it was done correctly.”
I might as well have completed it myself by the time I had finished explaining it to someone else.
“What kind of wife/mother am I if I don’t keep up with the laundry and tidy my own house?”
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Sounds recognizable? This was me all over, but you need to learn to delegate if you want to enjoy life and help your company thrive.
Get help around the house first. You’ll save hours by hiring a cleaner, an ironing service, a gardener, and having your groceries delivered.
Make a list of all the tasks you perform for your company, both big and small, and include an estimate of how much time you spend on each work each week. Consider which jobs and the resulting time you could outsource while still maintaining your clients’ satisfaction as you go through the list. Calculate the average amount of hours you will save; in the end, you may use this time savings to focus on expanding your firm.
You don’t have to hire someone; instead, think about using a freelancer or virtual assistant. Create procedures, provide them thorough training, and create communication and workload management strategies. You won’t turn around again!
Above all, watch out for your company taking over. Don’t allow yourself feel that you’re’missing out’ on life or that it’s passing you by. Work hard, be organized, and establish a routine. and put in clever work, you’ll benefit from it.
Believe it or not, you are a superhero who can accomplish everything. You are everything to everyone, and you wouldn’t be doing it otherwise.
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