EDITION #2---THE "PARENT-PRENEUR"---PHILOSOPHIES AND BELIEFS!

Well, let me tell you, the topic of this article couldn't be at a better time! Over the past week I have been preparing my family for the return to school.  And I have been challenged to say the least!  I'm wondering if I can get frequent flyer miles for every trip I make back and forth from the school in "Mom's Taxi"!!??  It has actually taken a full family effort for everyone to stay organized and accomplish all that we have needed to accomplish as a family and in business.  It reminded us of our beliefs and philosophies and WHY we do it.  I'll tell you more in a minute...but let's recap last week. 

Last week we established that being a good parent and being an entrepreneur CAN BE DONE---and where to begin!  I hope that many of you have determined the right home based businesses for yourselves since the last time we were together.  I hope you are excited and have picked something you can truly love! 

By this time, if you followed the 3 tips I gave you in edition #1, you probably have had a meeting with your spouse and your family and have identified some of your minimums for yourself, your spouse and your family.  Now I was contacted by a few of you saying that you were kind of stuck on the minimums so let's talk a little bit about how to work those out.

I believe it is very important to determine your own personal philosophies and beliefs about yourself as a person, a spouse, a parent and also as a business person. What do I mean by that?  Well, let's just start with your philosophies on YOURSELF.  What makes you tick?  What is important to you?  What do you believe about yourself as a person?  For example, although I always love being a mother, I also believe that I am a driven, intellectual, fun woman who has a passion in coaching people in business and in life.  I love my business because I love people and connecting with people is something I enjoy and find purpose in.  Now in order to have a business I need to apply a minimum of 2-3 hours into it each day. 

Now I am not the type of person that could never just stay at home tending to the children and keeping the house.  I am not saying there is anything wrong with those who choose that...but it's not my own philosophy.  It's not me.  Denying that would not be good for me, my spouse or my children.  I don't ever feel guilty for being a working mom and protecting that 2-3 hours because I know that because I work...I am a better mom---after all I was myself first.  And fulfilling who we are is very important before we can fulfill others.  Being a woman I want my children, especially my 3 girls, to know that anyone can be a great mom and also have a career if they choose to.  With the industry I am a part of...I get to do both on MY TERMS---very key! 

Now let's talk about your philosophies of being a parent.  We must consider the ages of your children, how many children you have, are you a single parent or two parent household?  How much you feel that you should be hands on.  What is your role...mother/father?  Is it important to you to have a career or profession in addition to being a parent/spouse?  If a profession is not really something you are driven to have, home based business may not be the solution for you.  It is like starting any other business and there is a committment of time, money and resources.  If you think the laundry is more important or it's just a little thing to do in spare time, don't waste your time or money...just focus on what you are really passionate about and believe in.  If you really need extra money, a part-time job may be better suited for you.  Can you build a home based business on a small time committment---sure you can, but you have to commit to that MINIMAL amount time each day consistently.

OK, let me give you a visual, let's use me as a model.  I am married and I have four children.  We are a two parent household and our philosophy and belief is that my husband and I are co-parents--co-partners.  There is no "women's work" or "man's work".  We believe that after our faith, our children and each other are our number one priority and all efforts on our behalf come forth from that belief.  Whether those efforts are simply driving the kids to school, rather than having them take the bus because the bus driver drives like a nut or writing an article--it makes no difference it's from the philosophy that we do what's best for the kids always!  If you feel you must drive your children to school that is a minimum.

In order to be better parents we believe that we must assist each other by being a support to each other---emotionally, spiritually and with getting tasks done.  Children thrive in a loving, supportive  home---and it starts at the top.  We have a minimum amount of time we reserve for each other...as minimal as 15 minutes in the morning and about an hour in the evening.  After all we are the grown ups and we set the pace of the rest of the household.  If we want to see them be respectful, we show respect first.  If we want them to be polite and kind we have to model that in our home first---it's a minimum.

Also, we believe that in order to be better parents we will do our best in business--we each respectively have our own businesses...in fact I have 2.  In order to be able to provide our children support in the pursuit of their dreams we do our best, earn our best...always knowing that if we succeed, our children will be able to pursue any dreams they may have.  We also believe that it is a spiritual obligation to do our best in our working time and use the God-given gifts bestowed on us at birth.  In the process, our philosophy of a sound work ethic, or should I say smart work ethic is being passed down to our family---as well as our friends, extended family, business associates and collegues.  

Can you see that it's just not just about having the money to send our kids to college?  It's a philosophy of supporting our children that will lead to having funds, creating opportunities for them, and for us, and impacting all, not just our children, to know they can achieve their goals...no matter what they decide to do. 

Now our philosophies and beliefs have also shown us how to prioritize to take action to achieve the goals we have for our family.  Once I decided to leave behind my 17 year career and pursue my businesses full time, from home, there were adjustments that had to be made--by me. 

I had to learn how to priortize my time and my activities, in the time that I had.  I had to learn how to create a daily plan and do $100/hr. activities during hot times and $10 activities during the down times.  I struggled in this department for a while because I was "home".  I would do a bit of work, get up, go do laundry, make lunch, go check the internet (personal mail) and then wonder why I wasn't getting my work done or meeting my goals--before everyone got home. 

Once I really established my goals and developed a daily plan of action...then RESULTS came...BIG TIME!  What I realized was that my philosophies and my beliefs enabled me to think backwards and to create tiny steps that I could do each day...one day at a time to lead to my fulfillment.  It is critical to tap into beliefs and philosophies.  The consequences of not doing so will lead to doing activities that are not in alignment with one's own core beliefs.  That can impeed success.  It may be the reason why you haven't seen success.  Let me ask you....Do you hate your business?  Are you stressed out?  Getting burned out?  Maybe it's not your business, maybe it's the way you are working it that you hate....because you are not inline with your core beliefs and philosophies....Think about it.

Now next week we will talk about "GOAL GETTING"...we can only talk about that if you follow the tips from this week....

1.) Determine your philosphies and beliefs about yourself...your spouse...your children...your life.  Now becareful...not what other people's philosophies and beliefs are...YOURS!

2.) Determine the philosophies that have driven you to pick home based business as the option for you---on your terms!

3.) Determine what are $100/hr. activities that you must do and the $10/hr. activities you must accomplish. 

4.) DETERMINE THE MINIMUM TIME NEEDED TO DO THOSE ACTIVITIES.  Can you delegate the $10 activities to a spouse/babysitter/family member to focus on the $100 activities that support your beliefs and philosophies?

TUNE IN NEXT WEEK...when we will take some serious planning action and focus on "Goal Getting!"

Have a great week!