EDITION #1---Being a "Parent-preneur"..HOW TO MAKE IT WORK!

Are you just looking at starting a business from home?  Have you been building a business from home and finding it difficult to balance business...family...friends...health...and your other hobbies and interests?  Well, you are in the right place because IT CAN BE DONE and it can be done with great success and balance.  You can CREATE the life you can't wait to live!!

3 Years ago I was working in a professional career.  I have 4 beautiful children, a fantastic husband, great friends, a large extended family, a home, and 2 dogs.  I was working about 30 hours/week, was working out 5 days a week and had a lot of hobbies that I enjoyed!  I knew that a home based business was the answer for me and my family because I wanted out of the traditional J-O-B so I could put my focus, and time, on my family as priority #1.  I believe that family comes first before anything else and my husband and I discovered that our kids needed me home even more than when they were babies---but I still needed to contribute to the family income---significantly!

I went out in search of a home based business with the very realistic expectation that it would require an investment of my time, money and effort.  The big question became....Could I pull it off?  Could I still do what I was doing AND get a business off the ground?

Today as I meet people who join my team or that I coach personally, I find that many have the same questions.  I've helped many create a plan that not only gets the job done, but also allows the entire family to have FUN!!  I will be contributing a series of articles to assist those who find themselves wanting to break free by having a home based business that CAN be worked around an active family.  I hope that you find something in these articles that assists you to create the balance (which is very important in achieving real success) YOU deserve to feel fulfilled and happy!

Now this process does not happen over night, it will require a FEW sacrifices at first, but if I can offer you just a few steps to getting on the fast track....you'll get there a lot faster! 

Let's get started!!

If you are just looking into the home based business industry---GOOD for you!!  It's easier than ever before to find opportunities that include systems and support to assist you as you learn the ropes.  Realize that you will be "going back to school" if you will.  Unless you are seasoned in the home business world...you will have to learn new skills.  And it's easier than ever before!  Just stay connected to this website and you'll get ALL KINDS of tips to assist you! 

If you are really serious and ready to get started you can do research in literally a few days to find a business that will be a fit for you.   Understand that as you enter into the arena you are going to see a lot of great opportunities and once you request information you will have the chance to talk to a lot of people who are already established.  My first suggestion to you is find something that you LOVE!!  A company that has products and philosophies that fit yours!   Weed out the rest and then focus on those that you really could see yourself getting passionate about.  If you are fearful about finding a legit business, don't let that hold you up.  There are way more legit businesses available to you than bummer ones.  And just to make sure you go into seeking a home based business without sounding ignorant to true marketing professionals...understand that for the most part the attorney generals from each state as well as the FTC has made it really difficult for "scams" or "pyramids" to exist for very long anymore.  If you are dealing with a real company they will be able to provide you with credible information about who they are and what they do.  And one other thing before we move on...don't go on the internet and check out every blog about INDIVIDUAL experiences with a company.  Many times it's not the companies fault that a person did not achieve success. It's the person who is writing the articles fault depending on their approach. 

OK...enough of that... Determine WHEN you want to start your business.  Is NOW...really NOW or does now mean within the next 3 months or next 2 years.  Determine your own readiness.  You will waste the time of those that call you to give you information if you are just "Kickin' the Tire" so to speak.  If you do want to get something started now...don't stay in a "research" pattern for months.  If you are serious about finding something...don't let fears hold you back...ask for the person you speak with to provide you proof about what they have to offer...then make a decision to get started.  Don't waste your time or theirs stuck in FEAR---Ask questions, get answers, make a decision!  I've seen more people let opportunities pass them by that could very well have been the solution that would have given them the income and time they and their families truly deserve...but guess what FEAR took that away from them.

Once you make the decision to get started, then you need to sit down with yourself first and identify your goals, strengths, weaknesses, skill level and all the other factors in your life that you must do in a day, a week or a month.  One of my great coaches Gabrielle Whitney calls this identifying your "minimums".  If you know that you have a job that requires you to get-ready, get out the door and then devote 8 hours of your day, make sure you account for the actual number of hours that are just non-negotiable or unavailable to devote to anything else.  By this I mean...yes, you work 8 hours a day, but does it take you an hour in the morning to get yourself and your kids ready to get out the door?  Does it take you a 1/2 hour to commute and drop off at daycare before you start that 8 hour day?  That's actually 10 hours of your day--not 8!  Many people get bogged down right off the bat because they underestimate the time that is really involved in accomplishing a task. 

Now in addition to work, you may volunteer an hour/week at your children's school, work out for an hour a day, take 30 minutes to do your daily devotionals, run kids to football practice, cook dinner and get laundry done---all before getting 8 hours of sleep!  Sounds like a lot!  And it is!  You accomplish a great deal in a day!  Now how in the world are you going to add in a business?  Well, start first with sitting down with your family and having a meeting.

I did this with my family and when they found out that they could be the direct beneficiaries of mom being able to leave behind a job and make a six figure income the offers for help just started flowing!  Now if you are a single parent or your children are really small there are ways to work around that as well that we will get into later.  Just so you know...at one point I was a single parent too so I understand. 

If you are fortunate enough to have a supportive spouse, then COMMUNICATE with them what you have identified as your minimums and the family minimums.  Ask them to contribute to the list of minimums so they are considered and included in the plan.  When everyone is on the same page it is far more likely that you will be supported in your efforts from the "HOME TEAM"!

Let your spouse, partner or anyone living with you know how they can assist you to gain a few extra hours in the day.  Maybe your husband/wife starts dinner 2 nights per week or does the clean up so that you can move onto your business activities.  Maybe you alternate picking up the kids from daycare---whoever gets home first and without the kids starts the laundry and dinner! 

One of the greatest down falls of good moms/dads is that they think they have to do it all.  If their family only knew they wanted help or what they could do to assist, they would  be more than happy to oblige...they just don't know!  ASKor TELL your family what to do to assist you!  Most spouses or partners want their partner to be happy.  If you are not communicating that you need help and only voice your frustration or feelings of being overwhelmed when you've waited to long to ask...sorry that's your fault not theirs!  Had to learn this one the hard way!!

Well those are your tips for today

1.)  Get started in a business that you can see yourself LOVING!

2.)  Determine your Goals and your MINIMUMS, then sit down with your spouse to have them contribute theirs.

3.) Have a family meeting enlisting support and help from the "HOME TEAM"!

TUNE IN TOMORROW for MOVING FORWARD!

Best Regards,

Pam Glowski

for more information on me check out my profile!