Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Here`s my scenario. I`m a stay-at-home, work-at-home, school-from-home mom of three small children. I have so many ideas for my business (marketing, training, self hosted workshops, etc.) and sooooo little time to bring them to fruition.  Sometimes I feel that I`m in over my head and the only thing to let go of is my business.  But, I keep holding on.

So, Moms (& Dads), PLEASE share your insight, ideas and advice.  What are you doing to make it happen for you and your household.

-------------------------

What is life without giving!

Creatively yours,
Robin Fuller
Owner
Bundles of Baskets
Offering Creative Gift Solutions
www.bundlesofbaskets.com

Hi Robin,

I`ve been where you`re at .....actually several times.   I started my first venture in 1989 and have never looked back.  Some have worked....and some have not.  One business did over $200k the last two years of it`s existence, but made a profit every year and increasing revenues every year.  At one point I had three employees.  That was scary. The point is .... do something that you`re passionate about. 

You will be overwhelmed once and awhile. I believe it`s normal.  Try to focus on what the one important thing that you could do ...whatever it may be.  Take a single step.  Then take the next step. And then the next.  Just keep walking. 

Sometimes when I look at the whole business, it`s easy to get overwhelmed.  I just tell myself to keep my head down and keep doing the most important thing on your list.

One other important thing I`ve realized is to give your business time to mature.  I`ve had three businesses that were profitable and the one I`m building now is successful.  I realized not long ago that the real turning point for all of them was in their third year.  That was the breakout year ...... for four different, totally unrelated businesses. 

I tend to get impatient wanting things to happen or to happen faster.  But we`re like farmers.  We have to plant our seeds and nurture them and wait for them to grow. So try to be patient.

The last thing I want to share with you is a line from the movie Castaway.  I enjoyed it.  Tom Hanks told someone in the movie that "you never know what the tide will bring in."  I tell myself that all the time. Most people quit right before their big breakthrough.  Tomorrow, someone may call you or email you wanting a distribution deal...or some other great thing.  You never know.

Good luck and keep plugging.

Dave

 

 

-------------------------

Dave Bosely
Managing Director
www.ArtworkOnTile.com
Fine Art on Ceramic, Porcelain, Tumbled Marble and Glass

Dave,

That was very encouraging.  You hit so many areas that I`m experiencing, overwhelmed, scared, impatient, keeping focused, being passionate about what I do.  And then you provided the encouragement for me to keep taking the steps.  Thank you, thank you!

At a days end, I am so tired and discouraged from wanting things to happen and wanting them to happen fast but not wanting to take away from what my children and husband needs and what I want to give them.  I`ve been searching and searching for help and motivation to keep going.  I visited a SCORE counselor and, while it was helpful, the bottom line is that it`s all up to me and often, I`m overwhelmed with that.

Thanks for listening and, please keep sharing

-------------------------

What is life without giving!

Creatively yours,
Robin Fuller
Owner
Bundles of Baskets
Offering Creative Gift Solutions
www.bundlesofbaskets.com

Hi Robin,

It`s not easy being a mom and working as well. I have two kids, 5 and 2. I have a home office too and it is like having two full time jobs. I started my own business to control my hours and have the flexibility of scheduling things. My advice is to take help where you can get it and delegate chores etc. if you can. Sure, there have been a lot of late nights but my time is my own and I can schedule a vacation when I want or take time off to see the school play. I can`t ever really see working for a company again. My time is too precious and children grow up fast.

Best of luck.

Mary


-------------------------

Mary Hutchison Design LLC design + strategy + counsel 206.407.3460 info@maryhutchisondesign.com

Robin, I have only one small thing to tell you and hopefully it will encourage you to keep pursuing.   "God`s Desitiny for us can never be achieved unless we are chasing our Dreams!"

Best Wishes to you and everyone!

THIS IS SO TRUE



-------------------------

Jo
NJ

Thank you all for your replies. No, it`s not easy but well worth it. I`ll keep plugging away.

-------------------------

What is life without giving!

Creatively yours,
Robin Fuller
Owner
Bundles of Baskets
Offering Creative Gift Solutions
www.bundlesofbaskets.com

Hi Robin,

I have found that delegating tasks out has helped. I have two part-timers that help package my products. I am farming out the printing, bookkeeping and payroll. This is all helping me get things done more efficiently.

Also, I have a sitter for about 15 hours a week. She`s a retiree and needs the money, and I need the help. It works out well. She is upstairs tending to the kids (mine are ages 4 and 17 months) and I`m downstairs working. I come up often though to help feed them or dress my preschooler for school and I put him on the bus every day and am here when he gets off of the bus too. It`s just enough time for me to get some things done and run some errands. Then my 4-y-o goes to school, my other son naps. Then my husband comes home at 4 and helps take care of them as needed too.

I think it would be difficult to have small children at home -and- home school -and- have a serious business. I hope you find what works for you. I`m sure you can find a way!

Chris

-------------------------

Chris

The Dippy Chick Company, Inc.

I think all of us with children be they grown or young ones feel the time crunch when we need to be working!
I know the time crunch hits me full in the face when my plans for the day are way laid by babysitting my own 2 year old grandson.

My own fault in so many ways since I am and yes I will shout it to the world I am a selfish Granny, I cant bare the thought of him being with a babysitter who doesnt watch him as well as I do. His parents are young, My son is 25, my daughter in law is 23. They understand my own selfish need to have him with me, yet they are also aware they need time alone once in a while and not just for work.

I work from home so having him here most times is fine, I work when he naps or sneak in 30 minutes here or there and after they come get him at 9:00pm.

I know how hard it is for me as a grandmother to care for a young one and to help out the adult kids, and I applaud anyone who is able to do both and do they well.

My home my be a bit scattered but my office is organized and working well for me now.

The problem I will be having and as I said before, it is my own fault ,is I will be doing alot more traveling for new customers with the new business service I will be offering and I will have to let go. It wont be every day once the customers know I am available but for the first few months I will be gone every day.

How does one deal with the emotional feelings of loss that I know are going to accompany his being with another babysitter? I wont know until it hits me.

The time crunch is hard and yes you feel like your going crazy but when you set priorities, set times to work and for play and make them solid times, it really does help. Being organized so your able to sneak in a bit of work time when the kids are playing also helps alot.

I wish you the best of luck and know in your heart you can do it!!

JayDee


-------------------------

" The only time success comes before work is in the dictionary"

Hi Robin,
I started my business two years ago. For the first year I was only able to steal moments here and there when my newborn was sleeping. When she turned two She started to go to a babysitter two days a week and that made a huge difference. She loves to play with the other children and I am a lot less stressed because I have two big chunks of time a week to do what I need to do. I second what chris says about delegating. I have someone who comes once a month and does the bookkeeping (a worthwhile investment), someone who helps enter names for my mailing list and even though I am a designer someone who helps me with the website and other marketing materials. The other thing I did which has been really great is I started a group for Work at Home Moms (WAHMs) who run their own businesses. We meet once a month and I have been amazed at how motivating and informative this has been. We get together and talk about business issues that pertain to us WAHMs and Mompreneurs! We talk about non traditional work schedules, marketing for homebased businesses, share information about community events that might provide exposure for our businesses etc. We also use this time to run product /marketing ideas past each other and get great feedback. Some of the ladies who come to the meeting are just in the early stages and want to talk to women who have made the leap. Others are interested in a particular topic. My intention when I started the group was to provide a support system for WAHMs--so far I have been really pleased with the result.

Best of Luck

-------------------------

Tessa President ThinkCanvas.com Turn your photos into Fabulous Canvas Art! www.thinkcanvas.com Ask about our amazing line of beautiful Custom and Readymade Frames!