MumsInBusiness
The women of today are pioneering a whole new breed of motherhood. One where, out of both necessity and desire, we turn our backs on the ‘stay at home’ dreams of our own mothers. We find ourselves as the first generation really having no choice but to decode the juggle of being mums who earn.
The Stats:
According to the Office of National Statistics, last year a whopping 73.7% of women with dependent children were working*. This is a number that has surged in recent years. Due to inflexible working environments many employers appear unable to utilise the amazing resources of these women. This is creating a steady increase in the number of ladies starting their own enterprises. The Federation of Small Business reported a 40% rise in self-employed women since 2008**.
My story of business around babes:
I am one of those women. Whilst independently raising my two little whirlwinds I have built a multimillion pound business and served on large company boards. Now my babes are at school I continue to build new businesses. I advise other companies and have showed over 1000 other people (predominately mums of young children) how they can create their own success.
Here are my 10 top tips for building a business around your little people:
1. Multi-task the mundane
Emptying the dishwasher, cleaning the food splatters and crumbs off the floor, folding the washing… just some of the mundane tasks of motherhood. Most of us hate doing them and could do them with our eyes closed – so why not make those task productive. Invest in a great hands-free kit and get this stuff done whilst chatting on the phone or listening to a pod cast of new market research from your sector.
(Watch a review of my favourite hands free kits on the business growth forum)
2. Delegate at home and work
When your business starts turning a profit don’t pay yourself straight away, pay others! Invest in people who are going to help you grow quicker by delegating some of the functional tasks that you would otherwise end up doing. Get a cleaner, get a virtual assistant, have your groceries delivered, find someone to build your website rather than spending hours trying to do it yourself. If it is not your key skill or the cost of doing it is less than your own hourly rate, then it is ripe to delegate.
In the early days you can even find other mums with skills you need to skill swap and support each other. Find a forum of other likeminded business people and see if there is anyone with the skills you need who might like the skills you have got (come join our forum of other small business owners at https://www.facebook.com/groups/Franbglobal/)
3. Get Organised – Bed time routines and eking out every spare minute
It makes a huge different to have both your kids and your business activities super organised. Getting my children into a daily routine not only helped me as a mother but it also gave me time to build a business. The most valuable part of the children’s routine is the set bed time. Other than on holidays we stick to it. This means I get my evenings to build my business or sometimes just recover. Whilst it can be hard to establish it is worth every tantrum in the long run. The kids are happier because they are well rested, and mum gets a chance to have a life without them hanging off her ankles!
Getting organised with work is equally important. I spend 20 mins on a Sunday evening planning the week ahead. It is a combination of weekly goal setting – so I understand exactly what I need to get done in the following 7 days – alongside preparation for that activity. Most of my business is built in the nooks and crannies of the day. I am prepared and have all the information to hand. If I get to school 5 minutes early I can utilise that time effectively, perhaps get one of my calls done or respond to am email that needed attention. Time spent effectively organising always pays dividends
4. Be Realistic and don’t compare
Be realistic about what you can and want to achieve, especially when you have pre-school aged children. Don’t compare yourself to others who have different circumstances. That is both as a mother and a business woman! Make good steady progress in your own time, being realistic about what you are going to achieve whilst trying to juggle. Celebrate what you can do in the time you have available and stay committed to that. The progress will follow if you keep taking steady action.
Find another mum who can support you as a business buddy or coach. Someone you can talk through your goals and get support to strike the best balance for you and your family.
5. Set Boundaries for mummy time
You’re with the kids and your phone rings. You feel you really must take it or you will lose a customer. Your phone pings and you can’t help the urge to check how your social media posts are performing. It is so easy to fall into the trap of being there but not really being there for our kids.
You probably started your own business because you wanted the flexibility to be around your little people. Make sure that when you are with them you are there in mind as well as body! I set key times when my children know they have 100% of my attention. Every evening between school and bed my phone is in flight mode and hidden away. We indulge in quality time for 3 to 4 hours. After that they are usually bored of me and happy to let me sneak in a few tasks that need to get done. Set boundaries to be with your children and be disciplined about sticking to them.
6. Get the kids involved
If there is any small job your kids can be involved in, then this will help them feel part of what you are doing. This could be helping you knock on the door when you are delivering a product or staple work sheets together. Perhaps even helping out with chores at home to free up more time. I have always welcomed my children to be involved (sometimes out of necessity!). They have learned some skills but most importantly they have started to understand what it is I do and the link between work, making money and the lifestyle they live.
7. Summon the energy
There are going to be times when you will need to dig deep. You will feel battered and exhausted after a day with the kids and the thought of making a call, sending an email or maybe even popping out in the evening to see a client is the last thing you desire… but dig deep. It is committing in those times that over time will contribute to your success.
8. Shun the mothers guilt and take care of you
To perform at your best, make sure you spend some time taking care of yourself. This might sound a bit contradictory after the last point, but this is all about balance. Try to get the best sleep and diet possible alongside finding some time to exercise (beyond chasing little people!). When your body and mind are fit you are more effective and you inevitably get more done. Whilst you are going to be busy make sure you also schedule some down time. Shun your ‘mothers guilt’ and indulge in some time just for you every so often.
9. Remove the pressure to be a mummy slave
There appears to be a huge pressure to constantly entertain our children, filling their time with an endless stream of activities. There is no harm in letting them create their own fun and actually get bored! Most of us, when we were children, were left to use our imaginations to create our own entertainment. Parent the best you can, but don’t feel that you must give up every waking second to motherhood. They will learn just as much from entertaining themselves as they will from being entertained.
10. Be Proud, be human
Rather than flapping my arms in panic when a little person interrupt a phone call I now happily and proudly explain to my business contacts that I build my business around my children. This actually give me a competitive advantage… it makes me authentic and human! People love the opportunity to hear my story and talk about their own children.
By choosing to build a business around your children you are setting the most amazing example to them. They will grow up respecting your work ethic and the role of women in our society. They will see what it takes to create success and be resilient.
You are doing an amazing thing and should be proud of yourself.
For more live broadcasts and tips; Fran updates her business growth forum on facebook daily. Join the conversation and become part of our ever growing community of enterprising people athttps://www.facebook.com/groups/Franbglobal/
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