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The misconception that a mom cannot run a thriving business and have a good relationship with their family is quite prevalent. In actuality it just takes more effort to create this balance but it is more than possible. The tough part about being in charge of a business is not bringing a bad day home with you.
Being able to compartmentalize is going to be imperative as you do not want to scream at your kids because the marketing team failed on their latest campaign. This is going to take cooperation from your significant other as well as caring for the kids will be a true team effort. The following are tips for a mom to balance her time between a successful business and her family.
There are a myriad of perks of being the boss including you can choose when you want to work from home. The one thing that you do not want is staff to slack off during these days so monitor production closely. One idea would be to offer these work from home days to the entire company as long as they keep hitting their numbers. Not only is this seen as a perk but it can help attract top talent as quite a few people would love to work from home a few days a week. This will allow you to schedule times that you might need to pick the kids up from school or you want to watch their tryout for a team. With all of the video conference platforms available you will even be able to hold meetings with staff if needed. Time tracking software can also be a huge help in monitoring employees as it is wage theft if they are simply browsing Facebook instead of getting work they are paid for done.
Taking on a partner or investor can be a huge help as they can take some of the burden off of you. If an investor can take care of attracting large clients then you can handle the area of production. A partner might not be your first pick but they can be a huge help if they understand your industry. They will have to pay the company though as you are not giving up half of your company for nothing..
Lee Jacobs of AngelList cautioned that its important to reference check your investors and understand who you are getting into business with. Investor and founder relationships are long term and it is important to do your diligence.
With smartphones it is easier to sync schedules than ever before amongst a family. This can allow you to see that your teenager can drive their little brother somewhere as it is on the way to their job or practice. Scheduling out time specifically for the family should also be done regardless if you face push back from teens that do not value family time. Life is hectic so make sure schedules are made so everyone can also understand how important certain days are for individuals in the family.
This is the most important part about finding a balance between running the business and spending time with family. Hiring people that understand how to do their job and need little to no direction are incredibly valuable to an entrepreneurial mother. You do not want constant calls checking to see if a decision is correct but rather people that are confident in themselves and you are confident in. Proper employee training can also assist with this as in far too many circumstances people are learning jobs as they go.
Turning off your work phone when you are done with work for the day not only allows for more time with the family but also gives you time to unwind. Rejuvenation after a long day can be tough to attain if you are worried about a frantic email a client sent that can easily wait until the next day. This does not mean you cannot get work done at home but avoid doing so when you could be spending time with the kids or your significant other. Turning off your phone before bed can be another great tip as getting in quality sleep not only can make you a
better parent but also a better entrepreneur.
It is going to be tough but you can create that perfect balance. Your children will be proud of you as well as running a business is a huge accomplishment for anyone, let alone a mom that is running her family.