Running your own small business is hard. Raising a family is hard. Running a small business WHILE raising a family is an epic struggle for balance.
To make matters worse, many entrepreneurs with families experience overwhelming guilt. They feel guilty for working too hard and being away from their families AND they feel guilty for not working when they tend to family matters. As a result, they are never truly present at work or at home.
Here are a couple of tricks entrepreneurs can use to drop the guilt:
Use only one brain at a time
If you’re a mother, don’t go to work with “Mommy Brain.” And don’t tend to your family while trying to close a business deal or draft a contract. Most people are not as productive as they think they are when they multi-task. Try focusing on one role at a time. When you’re in “the zone” at work, make the most of it and be as productive as you can. When you’re with your family, put down the smartphone and enjoy your kids. Be present. You might be surprised to find that you get more out of both worlds when you try to keep them separate.
Choose clients carefully
If you have the luxury of picking your clients, work with people who understand that you can’t drop everything on a whim or work strange hours because you have familial responsibilities. Set clear boundaries and manage your client’s expectations. You may choose to work with clients who also have families and understand the need to find balance.
Schedule everything
Map out your work time and your family time. It may seem silly and obvious, but if you create a graphical representation of how your time is spent, it might surprise you and make you realize where you could be spending more or less time. If there seems to be an imbalance between family and work, make adjustments. And then stick to the schedule.
Need a hand with your business’ brand? Call Kim Speed at Purple Moon Creative today!
