Balancing motherhood with marriage and a professional business career is challenging regardless of the circumstances. All mothers are working mothers, but those who have their own business have an extra challenge in juggling their business and their family life, because when you have your own business, work does not finish at 5 pm.

When I started my dental practice, the practice was my baby. I would spend most of my time there, caring and nurturing it, and I used to love doing it. But when my daughter came along, she was my new baby, and because as women, we have this innate longing to be and care for our baby and family, the combination of motherhood and work started to produce quite a bit of guilt.

When I was at work I felt I should be with my daughter, and when I was with her, I was thinking of the work that I still had to do. So how can one have a successful business and enjoy motherhood without feeling torn between the two?

Though every situation requires different solutions, here are the 5 steps on how to balance life and work, so that you can feel successful in business and in your family life at the same time:

1. Plan First

You can’t always plan a baby, but you should definitely have a business plan. The key is to have systems in place and set up your business so it can eventually work without you. Ideally, the goal is to have all the duties you that you have been performing within the business be a proven system that can be replicated and easily performed by someone else. So the plan is to work on your business rather than in your business, own the business rather than the business owning you. You will be a much happier mother and business woman if you just get this one step right.

2. Get Organized

Use a planner to schedule your work life and the activities in your family life. Keep both personal and work appointments on the same calendar so you don’t overbook or double up. Decide on a percentage for work and family that you feel can work for you. Everyone has a different situation, but you can choose what you are comfortable with to schedule in your diary. 50% work and 50% family, or perhaps you can be in a position that you only need 20% of your time to be working. It’s really important that you get some clarity what percentage works for you, because when you live that, you get to experience peace of mind and therefore feel balanced and empowered.

3. Get Help in Your Business

There are 3 aspects to any business: operations, manufacturing and marketing. Often we are more knowledgeable in one or two of these, but lack knowledge or skills in the other. For example, in my dental practice, I was great at manufacturing… looking after my patients, but the operations… the practice management side of the business, dealing with staff issues, I found very frustrating. I chose to employ a management company that trained my staff, something I did not have time to do, or was not particularly patient with. Giving the job to someone whom I trusted, saved my sanity. Many small business owners, underestimate marketing. Marketing is the backbone to a successful business, and again decide your level of knowledge but know that if you are not getting the results you want from the business, there may be others that can help. Work out what you are good at, and stick to that. For the areas that are not your strengths, know your strategy and then delegate or outsource. Knowing how to leverage your time will give you the best chances towards balancing life and work, so that work does not have to come home with you after you leave the business office.

4. Get Help at Home

It’s not easy fitting in everything and also finding time for ourselves. Some business mothers may have very supportive husbands who are happy to share in all the necessary household chores, or may have relatives that can help. But if this is not your situation, then hire the help. Seriously, consider getting a nanny or an au-pair. Don’t try to be supermum… instead be a smart mum that understands that time (not money), is the most valuable commodity. By having the help you need at home, you will be able to balance this percentage of time that you have chosen carefully, so that you have enough time to do some home duties and also allocate quality time for your family and yourself. Remember yourself, your needs and wants, your happiness will be the balance.

5. Be Present, Be Grateful and Be Positive

When everything around you is overwhelming, being grateful and maintaining a positive attitude is the only antidote to anxiety. It’s easy to say this, and a lot harder to put it in practice. Being present, grateful and positive is a skill that it learned and needs to be constantly practiced.

It comes easier for some people depending on their environment and upbringing, and harder for others.
But there is one thing for sure, if you can master this one, experiencing balance and success in business and life is guaranteed!

May 2013 Issue