Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I too get over-whelmed...especially this time of year! 

I`ve two boys (5 & 6), Hubby is an over-the-road-truck driver and only gets home once or twice a month.
 
Our garden is ready for harvesting (what`s left of it anyway; the wind storm last week `took out ` 5 sections of privacy fence and 5 rows of vegetables), yards` a mess from the wind storm, school has started (for me and the boys).  My one client ran out of money (like I told him he would if he didn`t change the direction he was going) so now I have no clients, the local COC invited me to showcase my biz in their upcoming annual Biz Expo but it`s $600, trying to gather all the required info for a SBA Loan, numerous local events I`d love to be involved with to meet people & get my services noticed!

Sometimes I think someone has taken some of my 24 hours!  I actually felt guilty for sitting on the couch yesterday with Hubby & the boys to watch a movie...I was thinking I should be staining the new kitchen cabinets or canning the tomatoes that are ready, or uploading my law homework, or that the washer could be going while we sat there! Instead, I sat there!  It was very nice `cept for the slighty guilty feeling...

So, today, while the boys are at school...I`ll do my homework while the washer`s going (my neighbor helped me canned the tomatoes last night after Hubby left & boys went to bed), and the new kitchen cabinets are probably going to get painted instead of stained!

This is how I decide what to do when I get over-whelmed; make a list of everything you want to do, then number them in the order you think is more important or has to be done and voila...you`re back on track!

Viki Garrison
www.askviki.com



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Viki Garrison
www.AskViki.com

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Your Friend and VA,
Tricia Kos, Owner
Quality Business Solutions, LLC
Your Virtual Assistant Destination
http://www.qbs4u.com

It is a real challenge to be a Mompreneur...I have two kids...and two businesses...but I agree, the key is to delegate. Whether that is to family members or to contractors, find ways to eliminate the stuff that isn`t essential for you to do so that you can focus on the core of building your biz.

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Jean Ann Van Krevelen, social media coach
My Clients
http://www.davincivirtual.com
http://www.designcrafters.com
My Biz
http://www.edgyentrepreneur.com

It is a real challenge to be a Mompreneur...I have two kids...and two businesses...but I agree, the key is to delegate. Whether that is to family members or to contractors, find ways to eliminate the stuff that isn`t essential for you to do so that you can focus on the core of building your biz.

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Jean Ann Van Krevelen, social media coach
My Clients
http://www.davincivirtual.com
http://www.designcrafters.com
My Biz
http://www.edgyentrepreneur.com

It is a challenge to say the least.  I started a business 2 months after my first child was born, back in October.  My husband really helped me out with setting up the website and taking care of the bank accounts.  All I really had to do was focus on making diaper cakes and entertaining our new arrival.  It took some work, but I believe I found the right balance of time for all of us that we are all comfortable with.  Every month as my business grows I have to make adjustments here and there (some naps for my son run a little longer than others!), but I keep my priorities in order straight and everything is going wonderfully!  If I had to opportunity to do it all over again, I probably would have waited a few more months to start the business, but I love where I am now.


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Michelle Storms
Mommy to Xavier 10/04/2008
Business: Rattlecake Diaper Cakes
Link: Diaper Cakes
Email Rattlecake

Viki:

Sounds like things are quite hectic for you.  And even when you are going in all directions, at 100 mph, trying to keep it all up in the air, you still do not feel a sense of accomplishment.

I think we all know how you feel.  And the best solution, of course, is not necessarily what works for me or someone else, but the one that helps YOU to feel you have achieved your goals.

Coincidentally, your technique of making a list of tasks and then prioritizing them is exactly what I do.  I am not a mom-preneur, but my bride and I launched our company--storkbrokers.com--together a few months ago. 

She (Bridget) has a different style than I do.  We used to argue over the "best" way to manage stress, accomplish tasks, grow the business and have quality family time with each other and our two kids (a 4-year-old and a 3-year-old).  Eventually, we learned that each person has to decide what is best for him-or herself.  And a few suggestions may help them to decide.

More importantly, we learned that sometimes cliches are very true.  The cliche in this case..."Life is a journey, not a destination."    Having heard this paraphrased a million times, it finally dawned on me how to apply it.  Here are some examples:

1. We were stressing when we had 90 emails to answer in one day, but then remembered that we used to stress that no one was contacting us.  So we decided, if no one was contacting us, let`s enjoy the peace and quiet together.  And if we had 90 emails, then let`s enjoy each one (make them quality experiences) and rejoice that we were in demand.

2.  We used to stress when we wanted to do a major project or marketing campaign but did not have the money.  Then we recalled how when we were newbies (which was not too long ago), we wasted $1,000 bucks here and $1,200 bucks there on things we thought we needed, but did not.  So, we decided to think "what`s the most effective thing we can do with the budget we currently have."  Whatever the answer, at least we knew we could afford it.

3.  Like you, we used to feel guilty if we spent all Saturday taking the kids to the park, the movies, a birthday party, etc., but in the back of our minds was a growing yet ignored task list.  So, we said, let`s schedule the time we will take the kids to their events so that we know we are putting family first.  Then, let`s plan the tasks we will get done today.  You really focus on mission accomplishment when you know you have a hard stop time.  See Parkinson`s Law.

These are just a few things that have helped us.  If that doesn`t help, think of how bad things would be if you were working for someone else--making their venture successful--and they were no better at handling deadlines, projects and stress than you.  Just gotta keep plugging away and enjoying the process because...

Life is a journal not a destination.

--Sterling
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Sterling Hawkins
VP, Business Development
shawkins@storkbrokers.com

StorkBrokers
Where Socializing IS Business
Website:       www.storkbrokers.com  (Join Us)
Twitter:         www.twitter.com/storkbrokers   (Follow Us)
Facebook:    www.facebook.com/storkbrokers     (Fan Page)



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--Sterling

Sterling Hawkins
VP, Business Development
shawkins@storkbrokers.com

StorkBrokers
Where Socializing IS Business
Website: http://www.storkbrokers.com (Join Us)
Twitter:    http://twitter.com/storkbrok ers   (Follow Us)
Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/StorkBrokers (Fan Us)

Well, there is no real answer to the "how do you do it..."  because some days yo just look up and it gets done.

Being a wife, mom, and full-time student also, it is hard to do one thing great...and unfortunately you will be coasting to do somethings because you do have just too much on your plate.

The positive, I love my business, and I wouldn't let it go, if you got ideas and it is your passion, do not let it go, because it will keep you focused, especially when you are stressed about all the other aspects of your life, you will always have your business to work on.

With that, my next advice is be realistic.  This was hard, I had to realize that maybe I scooped too much on my plate and did not realize I wasn't that hungry.  Prioritize your obligations on a timeline.  What obligation will free itself the soonest?  Is it school, your children's day-care, or your business?

Once you figure out what will free itself first, create a timeline/schedule to work everything around that one aspect, so as soon as that responsibility is freed up for you, it is on to the next thing.  Your timeline will have a domino effect.

Personally, I realized that its ok if my daughter wakes up at the crack of dawn now, why, because I get an extra 4 hours in the morning that I normally sleep through.  Coffee is your friend!  I have been persistent about creating a schedule to get my daughter ready in the morning, and there is hell to pay if we deviate<<you gotta be strong about this at first, because if you are loose at first, this plan will fall apart.

The good things is, you have older ones, to help  the smaller ones.  You need to drill into them that they need to help their brother and sisters out, as well as you.  Try to be as firm as possible>dressing, washing, brushing teeth, and hair> can all be done by your older ones.  This gives you time to prepare their morning meal, and set out their shoes, and make sure everything went as planned.  Also, you have time to go over your schedule for the day, create a to-do list, start lining up your phone calls, etc.

All in all, everyone learns time management, and your children will learn also, in order for them to get what they want and do what they want to do, they will have to finish their responsibilities first.

Well this was way too long, I'm sorry but in short:

Prioritize your goals to what will end first

Create a timeline to help organize that goal, and focus more of your attention on freeing that responsibility

Start your day as early as possible like around 5am to 6am, instead of 9am

Use your older children to create a better morning routine

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visiting the forums after a long break and stumbled into this topic.  just wanted to take some time and salute all you mompreneurs who have the patience, strength and courage to do what you are doing.  i really do not know how you do it, but however you do it and whatever you do is great. it's an inspiration to folks like me who feel overwhelmed when we have too much on our plates, but then we look at you and breathe a huge sigh of relief.

god speed

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Robin,

First, you should decide exactly what it is you want to do before you knock yourself out trying to build on several business ideas at once. Take that time to fully explore whatever it is you want to do.

As far as the kids the answer is: whatever works best for you. I have "time out" periods: in the morning, when my daughter gets home and before bedtime that is dedicated to her. The same with housework. I take a break about noon and clean up. And of course there is dinner time.

One of my problems was not assigning my daughter more responsibility. I am not sure how old your children are but children love to help and need to learn the valuable lesson of how a household works together (not just Mommy doing everything). Assign them chores suitable for their ages, which will also help free up some of your time.

Tia Wood

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Web Developer | My Blog

Wow. Just realized how old this thread is! I need to get used to the display of this forum.

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Web Developer | My Blog