BALANCING ACT:
Practical solutions for juggling business, family and you.
BALANCING ACT:
Practical solutions for juggling business, family and you.
I have always followed mine in personal and professional life. So far I have no regrets.
The fact is, women are known for having their instincts lead them to the right direction. Many books I have read on finance and investments, also recommend that women should invest by trusting their instincts and that they will win.
Do you follow your instinct or does excessive reasoning and measurements take over? If you do follow your instinct, what decision has it helped you make, of which you are proud?
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This weekend as I was watching Project Runway, one of the designers came out to introduce her line of clothing. She thanked her husband, her daughter and said, “Everything I do is for my daughter.”
At the end of the show as she walked behind one of her models, she pulled her daughter from the audience and walked with her.
This scene made me emotional. I applauded this designer from my couch. That is what it is all about! She brought her daughter to her work and they celebrated together.
Having your family next to you as you grow professionally rather then hide it as you are often tempted to do while you work in Corporate America, matters to me.
To all of you wondering why I started a business in these turbulent economic times, that is my answer.
Because I don’t want to hide my family. My children are right next to me as I grow professionally, watching me and learning. Because it’s my business and if I want, I can have my family by my side without wondering if that will fire me.
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This time of the year is about celebrating miracles. For Hanukka, we are celebrating the miracle of the oil candle that lit for 8 days. For Christmas it’s the birth of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. While I like to remember the miracles of the past, I would like to share with you my miracle of today.
My one year old started day care two months ago and has been continuously getting sick. I was stressed because of that and because of all the household chores piling up.
So my husband and I decided to go back to having a nanny. But this time a live-out. I am not a fan of the live-in.
While my daughter slept I asked the nanny to do some things around the house.
Wow! Wow! Miraculously all the laundry was done and my closets and drawers were full of clothes again.
The dishes and baby bottles were washed and I could see the bottom of my sink again.
The toys were put away and I could see the entire rug in my living room. It’s really pretty.
I had time for tea and water.
My virtual assistant is helping me create events for people to register. So I could spend time promoting my events. (Learn more. I am offering a webinar on January 7th at 8:30pm, on how to be more efficient with your time. Registration is now open.)
The VA is also helping me get to my “things to do” that I have been neglecting for a while.
That’s my miracle of this holiday season. Getting help is awesome. Things start to get done and it feels good.
Please share your miracle. Or, what you are feeling good about. Have a great Holiday!
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Two months ago I decided to become a full time entrepreneur, hoping the flexible schedule will make me available for my kids.
In October I worked ridiculous hours and stressed out. This caused weight loss, many arguments and unhappy faces from my kids.
In November I worked more reasonable hours but jumped from one task to another. This was bad for business. I didn’t know where to start, where to end, what to start, what to end.
In December I put together a schedule for all my tasks. Sometimes I am unable to be on schedule, well, that’s because I am a mom and my children take up a lot of my time. Last week, while trying to be on time on all my tasks, I had to put my children first.
My son got sick and needed extra help with the reading. While trying to get him better, I took him to a tutoring center to help him get ahead in his class.
My daughter is 15 months old and still not walking independently. I had to contact the early intervention program to get a reevaluation from the physical therapist.
While trying to arrange for all these appointments I had to put my work aside. And that’s when I wondered, perhaps it’s not a bad idea for me to slow down sometimes or maybe even, gasp, become a SAHM?
I have been rushing all my life. I graduated HS 3.5 years, got a 4 year college degree in 3.5 years. Got married at 19, had my first kid at 21, bought a house at 23, had my second kid at 25. Worked in Corporate America for 5 full consecutive years and retired to become a full time entrepreneur at age 26.
Now as an entrepreneur I am looking to build up my biz, turn my grand idea into a real business. I work about 50 hours a week. The hours may seem normal, but when taking care of two young children that’s a lot. Also, working for yourself is a lot more stressful. When building a business you are often lost and wondering what is the next most profitable step.
Perhaps, gasp again; it is not a bad idea to slow down sometimes. Perhaps I shouldn’t try to have it all while my children are young? Ahh, I said it, and I can’t believe myself.
I am a strong believer in not compromising my ambition. I believe that women can do both as difficult and messy it might be. However, at times when the kids are sick or need extra help with their growth and development, it gets even harder and makes me wonder about becoming a SAHM.
Thankfully, the sicknesses are temporary and there are many solutions for their growth and development. I may think that I want to slow down, but somehow, my behavior does not abide by my thoughts. Not having the exposure to such challenges, makes life not worth living for me. I believe that women should not compromise their ambition or their financial independence at any time.
What about you? Are there times when you think about becoming a SAHM? What keeps you motivated to be a working mom?
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