| A typical day for me is to hang out the washing | | | | 3. Create opportunities to fit around you. If you are |
| while my children eat breakfast before shouting at | | | | designing a business to fit in to your rules (which is |
| them to get their shoes on and get in the car to get | | | | always a good idea!) then having the ability to create |
| to school. Get my morning run in (as long as it is not | | | | the right opportunities to fit around your diary and |
| raining!) and then be ready for work at 10am. | | | | your priorities is a great skill to have. |
| Work like crazy either speaking to one of my 1-2-1 | | | | Networking events is good example of this. I hear |
| clients, bash away at the keyboard writing copy for | | | | many working mothers say that they can't find |
| a website or an article or dash out to a networking | | | | networking events to fit around school hours but to |
| event before skidding in to the car park for 3.15pm | | | | be honest, if you start digging around it is amazing |
| to do the pick-up. | | | | how many networking groups operate at all times of |
| On goes mum hat and its time to do homework, | | | | the day. Lunches, mid-morning, evenings. It's a case |
| cook tea, put plasters on cut knees and play | | | | of asking around your network and if you can't find |
| diplomat for any arguments. Time for bath, chuck | | | | one that suits - start one yourself at a time that |
| another load of washing in and sit down with a cup | | | | suits you! |
| of coffee with husband before heading back up to | | | | 4. Take on one project at a time. I saw Nicola |
| the PC to "tinker" on my web-gadgets and social | | | | Cairncross of The Money Gym present again the |
| networking profiles. | | | | other week and she demonstrated this point |
| Phew! But would I ever change this routine? | | | | exceptionally well. If one project takes one month to |
| Absolutely not. Like many of you reading this, I | | | | complete and you take on a new project each week |
| started my business to create a new, flexible career. | | | | that month, each project is going to take four times |
| My reasons were my family but I know others of | | | | longer and results from your first project will take at |
| you have decided to start your own business to fit | | | | least four months. Focus on the first project and by |
| around ski seasons, partner's careers and, let's be | | | | the end of your first month, the results and income |
| honest, to get out of the rat race. | | | | will start to happen to help spur you on for the next |
| But a question that I get asked a lot is "How on | | | | new one. Make sense? |
| earth can you grow a business and still have a life?" | | | | 5. Do less and achieve more. This principle is |
| Is it possible to juggle it all and still move a business | | | | particularly useful when it comes to marketing. It is |
| forward? | | | | easy to feel that you have to have lots of irons in |
| Well, yes it is and I thought I would share some | | | | lots of fires to attract as many clients as possible. |
| practical advice and tips that have helped me and | | | | But advertising one week, posting furiously on social |
| other home business owners have a life AND a | | | | networking sites the next, followed by a leaflet drop |
| successful business. | | | | in your local neighbourhood and finishing off with |
| 1. Remind yourself regularly of your reasons for | | | | random visits to various networking events is just |
| starting up in business. When times get hard and | | | | going to make you dizzy! Do one thing well, measure |
| more and more projects tumble around you, it is | | | | your results and then work out whether you carry |
| easy to scream and ask yourself why it seemed | | | | on or adjust your marketing strategy. |
| such a good idea to set up in business. I remember | | | | 6. Know that you can't achieve success by yourself. |
| my first Easter holiday, trying to keep my work | | | | "No man is an island" is a famous quote by John |
| momentum going whilst my 2 children where home | | | | Donne and when you start up in business, the sooner |
| from school. | | | | you realise this, the stronger and more successful |
| After 2 weeks of unsuccessful TV watching and | | | | you will be. This doesn't mean that you need to |
| several shouting matches later, I had to remind | | | | recruit business partners and start offering a |
| myself that it was my children that motivated me to | | | | percentage of your company, but it does mean that |
| become self-employed. I needed to take my foot of | | | | you can seek out business buddies to share ideas |
| the pedal during the holidays and fire it up during | | | | with, virtual assistants to delegate work out to, |
| term-time. OK, it did take me a couple of years of | | | | associates to share the work load and networking |
| hard juggling to really enjoy the ebb and flow of a | | | | contacts to help and support you. |
| term-time business and still have a 12 month income - | | | | 7. Make time for you in your diary. You put clients |
| but it is possible! | | | | meetings and telephone appointments in your diary. |
| 2. Just say NO! In the early months, it is tempting to | | | | But when was the last time you actually dedicated a |
| take on as much work as is offered to you. But just | | | | few hours to yourself in your diary. Make a |
| because it pays, it doesn't mean it is always the right | | | | commitment to join an exercise class, meet a friend |
| work to do. Accept the projects that you do "just | | | | for a dog walk or book a table for one at the local |
| for the money" or take on clients because they have | | | | coffee shop. It's amazing how more effective you |
| a cheque book, and you will not allow you or your | | | | can become by having some time away from your |
| diary to be open to the opportunities you really want. | | | | business. |