April 6, 2021
By Kristina McGarvey
Two things that are undeniably hard – business ownership and parenting. As a young parent, even thinking about business ownership can feel unobtainable and exhausting. It’s that feeling similar to when you are planning to become a parent – trying to find “the right time” but knowing there is no perfect time. One of my favorite TV personalities, Amy Poehler, once said, “Great people do things before they are ready. They do things before they know they can do it.” This statement was spot on for me when my all-too-confident husband informed me to buckle up because we are starting the business of his dreams.
Business ownership was always a dream of mine as well, but as a full-time working mother of a rambunctious toddler, I initially thought it would be a long while until it became a reality. Looking back 3 years later, I can confidently say that business ownership is awesome. Being a parent of now two rambunctious toddlers is AMAZING. But being both a parent and an entrepreneur – now that is an incredible journey that is more than I could have ever dreamed.
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Here are a few things that I have learned that help me juggle parenting and owning a business – my hope is that these tips will resonate with you.
How Does Franchising Work?
Learning how franchising works is good background knowledge to have when starting a business. In short, a franchise is a license a business owner can obtain that grants access to the brand, business knowledge, processes and trademarks of a parent company. The franchisee will usually pay the franchisor annual licensing fees in exchange for this information.
Franchises are great ways for entrepreneurs to jumpstart a business, especially one in a popular and competitive industry. Purchasing a franchise allows your name to be attached to an already-established company brand, bypassing the need to spend extra resources to get your name out there.
Tips For Creating The Perfect Balance
Now that you know how owning a franchise works, you can learn how you can best implement this into your busy schedule. Here are some tips to get you started and know you are not alone!
Take Advantage Of Your Network
Yes, I know how it sounds, but utilizing the successes and trials of your peers can help avoid some of those bumps in the road that are bound to come along. Luckily for me, working for HomeWell Franchising Inc., I have franchise owners I am able to witness run successful businesses and manage their parenting responsibilities simultaneously. Don’t be shy in utilizing the resources that you have at your fingertips. Many HomeWell franchise owners, along with my personal circle, shared the same tips with me, which I am passing along to you.
Get Organized
Remember that all-to-confident husband I told you about? This was a struggle point for him. He is an idea-factory, constantly starting new projects before finishing another. We all know this type of person, right? The person that paints a room but does not take the tape off until six months later. Yeah, that’s my husband. It is important to stay organized or the week can quickly fall apart. As young parents know, a trip to the zoo is not as simple as just a trip to the zoo. There is a lot of planning and packing that goes into making sure you have snacks, sunscreen, strollers, change of clothes, and of course, their favorite toy. This parenting skill of being able to quickly identify tasks that need to be completed in order to go somewhere or get anything done is a trait of a successful business owner. Anticipating needs before they’re required is a key skill for a business owner.
Manage Your Time Wisely
Trying to do everything at once usually leads to disaster with someone or something getting the short end of the stick. Trust me, I’ve tried it, and when I did, I wasn’t able to be my fully present self at work or at home. It ended up with me thinking about my kids while at the business and thinking about the business when I was with my kids. This trap is one that many young parents fall into, and it is a hard one to break. Be sure to remember that you are the business owner, and you can control your day – don’t let it control you.
Don’t Forget About Yourself
Allow yourself grace – not every day is going to be perfect or balanced. There will be hard times. Making sure you prioritize yourself and your well-being is essential. Business ownership is not for the faint of heart – it is hard work. And parenting – well, that job is 24/7. Allowing yourself to unplug and focus on you. That could mean scheduling time to work out during your lunch. Or leaving early to get a massage. Waking up early to meditate or – my personal favorite pouring a nice glass of wine and diving into a good book. Giving yourself this time to recharge will help you be a less stressed, and a more present parent and business owner.
Set Boundaries
Setting boundaries is about knowing your limitations and noticing your priorities for your business and personal life. If you need to reduce social time during work and increase socializing with your friends in your personal life, make a boundary where you will turn your phone off during your designated work hours. Because you have so much going on, try to finish work at a specific hour to give your brain time to unwind and spend time with your kids, spouse or family. Boundaries can also be set surrounding exercise or other forms of movement to keep you energized to keep up with your goals.
Delegate Where You Can
Balancing a personal life with a job and a business can be overwhelming, and you are not expected to do it all alone. A powerful move for entrepreneurs to make is delegating tasks to rapidly grow their business. Constantly managing administrative tasks while filling your time with busy work can quickly lead to burnout. If your business is doing well, hire more people to take some of the tasks off your hands. This can help open up more time you could spend with your family.
Revisit Your Why
It’s funny how, when we are in the thick of it, it is hard to see how far you have come to reaching your goals. Stepping back and remembering the very reason you went into business ownership is important. For us, that reason was revolved around family. Providing the best for our children, our parents as they age, and the ones that are closest to us. It’s a lot of work, but we know we are building a lifestyle now that we will be able to enjoy for many years to come.
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When my husband and I decided it was time for us to take that leap into business ownership, I knew that many people would think we were downright crazy, or that it was simply impossible. There is a lot of juggling the day-to-day tasks, and to say it has all been butterflies and rainbows would be irresponsible. For me though, every challenge is worth it.
At HomeWell, we can help you start a home care service. We will partner alongside you and provide resources, tools and programs that encourage growth for our owners. When you join the HomeWell family, you are treated as such.
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