As parents that run a business, it can be difficult to separate the two. We may be looking after our babies but, of course, our business is our baby as well. Therefore, we’ve got to achieve the balance. And whether it’s a cleaning business company you run part-time or it’s something that requires 12 to 16-hour days, what does it really take to get the balance right?
The Right Tools
The most important thing to ensure that you are doing your job effectively is that you are not wasting time by repeating yourself. When you are bringing on employees or part-time labor, you need to ensure that you have the right tools at your disposal to calculate labor costs, but also have the templates to ensure easy access. For example, the Sling labor cost calculator is a tool that can make life easier for you. The question is: what tools are going to benefit you? It all depends on the things that you find yourself repeating. If you are constantly processing payroll, there is an abundance of tools that can support you, but also you may want to choose the right app to ensure that you are remaining flexible. Google Docs is an excellent example because there are countless templates that you can make adjustments to, but they also have tools such as voice typing so you don’t have to waste time learning to type fast! If you really want to save time, this could make all of the difference, especially if you are trying to hold a baby while working at the same time!
Don’t Limit Your Beliefs
As parents, we can believe that we’ve got to stay in our lane, especially when it comes to setting up a business. We could believe that we just need to carve out this niche for ourselves and as our children are taking so much of our time, we can’t actually apply ourselves or be motivated enough to hit the big leagues. The fact is we can always benefit from thinking bigger and it is our motivation that will be the key component that keeps us pushing forwards. If you’ve got a great idea and you are passionate enough about it you will dedicate enough time to it. Sure there will be times when children don’t sleep and they will take up a lot of your time, but this is why you’ve got to build in some flexibility.
Incorporating a Flexible Approach
The fact is that you are running a business, so you are the one that sets the template. It’s also a good lesson in creating a company culture that grants flexibility and supports the balance in work and home life. This means letting your workers stay at home to work or have video calls instead of participating in a meeting in person. Everybody is busy, so flexibility is the most important tool.
Generating More Than Profit
Yes, you may want to have enough money to support your children, and this is where you’ve got to understand the importance of paying yourself the wage that you deserve. Many business owners choose to pass on everything to their employees which is noble and admirable, but you have to think beyond profit and think about what it takes to ensure that you are happy to continue doing this job for years on end. You can factor this into the culture by focusing on more than just making a profit. You can raise money for local charities, but also learn to give back to your community and show your business has a purpose beyond the bottom line.
Just Because You Are a Parent Doesn’t Mean You Are Not an Amazing Entrepreneur
It’s almost insulting to find ourselves up against people who look down on us and think because we have children we could possibly be as effective in the meeting room! Being a parent is one of the most physically and emotionally demanding roles out there. And this can give you a number of lessons in life and business, not least because there are times as a parent when you are physically and emotionally exhausted that you would much rather climb back into bed, but you also learn the value of powering through. But in addition to the sheer resilience, it also gives you that perspective of remembering that family, health, and well-being are more important. It is completely possible to run a business and be an effective parent, as long as you get the balance right.
