Relaunching VS Getting A Job
For many mamapreneurs, there comes a time when you must question whether to go back to work full- or part-time, or learn to balance having a home business with being a stay-at-home mom. I work as a life and business coach, but I’m also a single mom of two. For me, the question arose following my divorce.My little one is almost 16 months and my big girl is 6 years old. It is often many weeks between visits with their father. I will always be the one to take time off when the kids are sick, or there is a snow day, or a vacation from school. That is just the reality of it. These are some of the factors that went into my decision to re-launch my coaching practice instead of getting a job. I need flexibility and I need to earn money – so here I am.In re-launching my business, I had to be honest with myself about where I am. Would I be setting myself, my kids, and my clients up for disaster? Or was there a way to bring it all together in a way that met everyone’s needs?Here some ways I make being a single parent and a business owner work to benefit my family.Maximize my time. By doing a little strategic planning I am able to get more bang for my effort, more income from less time and more enjoyment with the kids.Create a schedule and stick to it. I have set times for the kids, for nap, bed and for work which I stick to. Having a schedule helps the kids feel settled since they know what to expect and I can appropriately plan.Hire inside help. I actually pay my 6 year old an allowance to help pick up the disaster my little guy makes. She is thrilled to have a little money and at the end of the day I can sit at the computer knowing the house is pulled together.Hire outside help. Of course I need to be able to meet with clients, so I hired a great babysitter. She is a long time neighbor just starting college. The kids were already familiar with her, since she has been their camp counselor for the past couple years.Giving myself the gift of time. By re-launching with a soft launch a year before I need to depend on the income, I am allowing myself to ease into my business again. This way, I can test what works and what doesn’t, what work methods are most effective, what I enjoy the most and how it all fits with the kids. Also, I am able to invest the money that is generated back into the business so when the time comes everything is in place.Budgeting wisely. Effective budgeting is critical for my business and my family. Again, with some thought I was able to create separate budgets for my family/household and business based on what I was currently earning in my business. And since I can only spend what I make, I’m forced to use those dollars in the most effective ways possible.
