by Angela Counsel
When I was writing Secret Mum’s Business, I interviewed lots of women in business about how they do it. How they manage running a business, being a parent, wife, friend, sister and still find time for themselves.
Once the book was released and I realised I had learnt so much, I interviewed many more and recorded them as part of the Secret Mum’s Business Podcast Interview Series. Have a listen to them all here (and we add to them weekly).
Their tips are so great and practical that I thought I would pop them all into one succinct post for you.
This is their advice to you.
- Start before you are ready. If you wait until everything is 100% perfect, you’ll never start
- Accept the challenges that will appear in front of you. Learn from them and move on
- Let the guilt go. The guilt about being at work. The guilt about being at home. Let. It. Go
- Make scheduling and diary management your friend
- Focus on what you’re good at and delegate or outsource what you’re not
- Design your work around your life, not your life around your work.
- Drop the excuses. If you have an excuse, you’re not ready
- Get up early so you can achieve all that you can every day
- Focus and be in the moment wherever you are. Work is work. Home is home
- Find out what you love and do it. Everyday
- Slot in some exercise every day even if it’s just a walk around the block
- Never give up. Keep having a go and believing that you can do it
- Get your family on board. Communicate the what and the why of what you’re doing. You need their support
- Be clear on the roles and responsibilities you have in your business and personal life
- Let the little stuff go
- Focus on your marriage. Who is there once you’ve sold your business and your kids have moved out of home? Your partner
- Don’t compare yourself to anyone. Other women, other business owners, other mums. It’s a fruitless exercise
- Be honest with each other and yourself
- Schedule in time just for you. As natural givers and nurturers we risk burning out before we give to ourselves
- Always keep educating yourself about business, life, health, relationships. Keep learning
- Prioritise what is important to you and stick to that.
- Say no if it isn’t right or doesn’t fit in with your work or family
- Ask for help if you need it. You don’t know it all. You can’t do it all and that is 100% okay
- Set boundaries in all areas of your life and make them non-negotiable
The number one way that I know to run a business and raise a family without all of the stress is to take some time out to have some fun. If you are a female entrepreneur who is working hard and not taking any time to focus on your self-care, then the Entrepreneur’s Playdate is for you. These events have been created for busy entrepreneurs who feel like they are missing out on fun in their lives. Click here to learn more and to book your spot at an upcoming event.