Biz Tips for Moms
Working From Home
The unique challenges mothers face when raising children while charting a path of financial security for themselves and their families is a subject near and dear to my heart. Far too little has been written on the subject...probably because we are all too busy! Still-Point Soap was started as a home-based business over 13 years ago while I stayed home with our four young sons. In the spirit of entrepreneurship and in support of mothers who may choose to do the same, I offer a few thoughts on working from home and provide seven simple biz tips for moms who may be starting a home-based business.
Reputable business texts, often written by men in business, rarely seem to capture the spirit and soul, much less the trials and successes, of mothers in business. Perhaps this is because for many of us, early business growth especially, is measured in more modest, incremental spurts, right along side the growth, development, and caretaking of our children and families. Our individual stories may not be particularly impressive if one uses the more traditional measures of business success typically portrayed in these texts. Nonetheless, our stories are remarkable when viewed through the lens of our shared hopes and aspirations as we redefine what it means to be a stay-at-home mom, working mother, and business woman.
Popular media has created, at the very least, the illusion of a great divide between working and stay-at-home mothers. In reality, many mothers move in and out of the work force as they strive to create and maintain a balance between the needs of the family, financial considerations, and career aspirations.
The reality of mothers in business, especially those working from home, can be an odd mix of inspiration and exasperation as the work and home environments overlap, vying for one's attention. Some days the working-from-home synergy is pure, the best of both worlds, bliss. Other days clearly fall more into the "what was I ever thinking?" category, and can leave one feeling a bit undone as work and home life strain and groan amidst seemingly competing demands. One soon learns that good humor and perseverence are as necessary as sound business and marketing plans.
For those of you, with young children still at home who may be considering starting your own business, I give you my heart-felt support and encouragement! I would also like to share some simple suggestions that I hope you may find helpful.
Seven Simple Business Tips for Mothers Working From Home
1. Contact your local Small Business Development Center for their list of classes, business counseling services, and on-going programs. They offer a wealth of services at very affordable prices for both the novice and those with previous business experience. They are an invaluable resource!
2. Read everything you can! Stay current with marketplace trends and the latest business and financial news. Even the occasional, easy to read, motivational book can help pick waning enthusiasm up off the floor. Working from home can be very isolating, especially if working solo. Expect this and take steps to stay connected and informed!
3. Network! So much insight can be gained from the wisdom and experience of others, not to mention the dear friendships that develop when making connections with other, like-minded, people. Sharing your story and perspective can help others as well! Use this knowledge and those contacts to guide you in making sound business decisions.
4. Have a space apart, that you can claim as your very own, in which to work. Be creative! Depending upon what type of work you are doing and your home environment, a dependable corner might just fit the bill. Others of you may need a fully equipped home office or studio. Take what you have and make it work for you. Such a place apart not only helps you keep organized and on-track but helps with that psycholgical shift required to move more freely between the role of mommy to business woman and back again. When working from home, take special care to keep business distractions in check so that you remain fully present to the needs of your children. A work space can help create those needed boundaries.
5. Some women may have childcare assitance during their business hours. Others may not. This is a very personal decision for every family and will undoubtedly influence your business decisions and the trajectory of your business growth. Regardless of how you structure your work time, always keep both your family and business goals before you to help guide and direct your day.
6. For those times when your work day is measured in fits and spurts because of pressing family demands, have a list of tasks at a glance which includes those necessary business tasks that can be completed in one hour or less. Attending to seemingly minor tasks keeps one moving forward and feeling productive on even the most disrupted days and frees you up to attend to the bigger projects on those days when time is on your side.
7. And finally....working from home while raising young children requires a decided shift in perspective. For all the sage advice found in buisness texts and offered by seasoned business professionals, time is perhaps the one factor that needs to be recalibrated in the hearts and minds of mothers in business. At least I found this to be true.
Allow that the best written business plans and carefully calculated time-lines will probably, in the end, bear only the merest resemblance to those found in text books! When my children were young, I found that others could do in weeks what took me a year to complete. Take courage. You are not alone. Stay focused. Keep your priorities sound...and allow it to be so!
Good Luck to you all!
Mary Post
April 30, 2008
