I love Flying Solo. If you haven't heard of it, head over there now and subscribe for your free weekly e-newsletter. It's perfect for mumtrepreneurs. Go on, I'll wait until you get back.
Now, this week, Sam (who is herself a fabulous mumtrepreneur) shares the story of her friend who couldn't take the plunge into solo-work (aka freelancing, home-based business, consulting, etc). Sam declares 'there are no downsides!' And that got me thinking... are there really no downsides for mumtrepreneurs?
For me, the biggest challenge is the interruption into the 'mum' time. I work three dayd a week. The other two I hang out with Sam, who is 3, and do the school-run rush. I'll get calls from clients in the middle of mothers group. I'll feel the urge to 'just finish that article' while Sam creates space ships with tiny lego. I'll check for urgent emails as I get ready to go to the park. And I might find myself conducting important phone interviews while cooking dinner, madly scribbling notes and making urgent mimed 'ssshhhhh...' faces at the kids at the same time. OK, I found myself doing exactly that yesterday. It was exhausting.
Is that a downside? It could be if your choice is between work and not-work. And if your 'desk' job really does allow you to take sick days without dealing with the subsequent workload build-up, or you can clock off both mentally and physically at the end of a shift (as my friend the air-hostess can), then maybe this constant juggling could be a downside.
The key thing is how you deal with it. I know I have to get better at it.
Do you tell your clients you aren't available on Mondays and Thursdays? Do you set up an auto-reply on your email on those days so you don't feel the pressure to check and respond? Or do you cave in and buy an i-Phone, so you can do it all and look fantastically with-it at the same time?
If you find it too hard to squeeze some office space into the toy-infested clutter that was once your home, ask around to see if you can share a desk or office space with another part-time soloist a few days a week. You might be surprised at how many people are keen to hot-desk. That way you won't always be walking past the files, computer or stock - and you won't be tempted to 'just check...'
I don't see anything else as a downside. No paid holiday? No salary safety? At least I can control whether or not I'll have a job next week!
What about you? Do you see any downsides as a mumtrepreneur? Let us know! And maybe we can figure out how to deal with it...
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Career advice from a 6 year old...
I promise I'm not going to go on and on about my kids. But I had an interesting conversation with my six year old last night - one of those ones that made me glad I just sat and chatted with him at the end of the bath, rather than spend those 10 bath-time minutes rushing around folding laundry, washing dishes and picking up stray lego.
Anyway, he asked me what made me decide to become a writer. This was a good question, because I'd spent part of that day wishing I hadn't (an unhappy combination of writers block and a client who wanted to change my copy at the last minute).
I told him that it was something I'd always been good at, and that people said they liked reading the stories and words that I write. He thought about this.
"I think I'll still be good at sorting out those dinosaur bones then," he said at last. I should point out that Dylan's current ambition is to be a paleontologist. Although of course he can't spell it, let alone pronounce it.
"I'm very patient. And I'd be very careful with them, because you wouldn't want them to break."
This is true. He is patient and careful. He spent 7 hours on Christmas Day putting lego kits together.
"But I'm not always patient," he added. "I don't like waiting in queues. They're boring"
Well, not many of us do. But what Dylan has worked out is quite spot on. He had found something he could be good at. But also something that didn't bore him. And that's the secret to a happy business and a happy work/life balance.
So, if you're still stuck for ideas, just close your eyes and pretend you're six. Dylan's alternative career choice is to work at Legoland.
Not as a queue monitor though, obviously.
Anyway, he asked me what made me decide to become a writer. This was a good question, because I'd spent part of that day wishing I hadn't (an unhappy combination of writers block and a client who wanted to change my copy at the last minute).
I told him that it was something I'd always been good at, and that people said they liked reading the stories and words that I write. He thought about this.
"I think I'll still be good at sorting out those dinosaur bones then," he said at last. I should point out that Dylan's current ambition is to be a paleontologist. Although of course he can't spell it, let alone pronounce it.
"I'm very patient. And I'd be very careful with them, because you wouldn't want them to break."
This is true. He is patient and careful. He spent 7 hours on Christmas Day putting lego kits together.
"But I'm not always patient," he added. "I don't like waiting in queues. They're boring"
Well, not many of us do. But what Dylan has worked out is quite spot on. He had found something he could be good at. But also something that didn't bore him. And that's the secret to a happy business and a happy work/life balance.
So, if you're still stuck for ideas, just close your eyes and pretend you're six. Dylan's alternative career choice is to work at Legoland.
Not as a queue monitor though, obviously.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
That Eureka moment
At the heart of all successful businesses, big and small, is one great idea.
How do you find that idea? Some people are ideas people, some people are implementing-ideas people. Some people have a dozen ideas and no time to follow them through.
If you want to start your own venture, but you're not sure where to start, here's a few different approaches.
1. Love what you do
If you're going to be good at something, and if you want to commit all your precious kid-free time to it. you need to really love it. So make a list of all the things you enjoy - your hobbies, if you like. It could be anything from shopping to making muesli. Then make a list of all the things you are actually good at. You might want to ask a friend or your partner about this, it help to get another perspective.
They might say something like "you're really great at helping people work out a solution." Have you thought about counselling? Or "you're a good communicator". How about sales, journalism, or marketing consulting?
2. Visualise the future
This is what my dad told me to do when I was 14. Close your eyes, and imagine yourself 10 years from now. Where are you, what are you doing? My brother imagined himself in a red sports car surrounded by gorgeous blondes. He's not quite Sam Mendes as yet, but he is a theatre director.
3. Seek inspiration
You've spied a gap in the market. How to fill it? Start shopping online - check out what's hot in the UK, Europe or the US. Read international magazines, talk to people who've been there. There's a great idea out there that hasn't yet reached our shores. Don't copy it outright - you may decide to become a distributor of a great new product, or you may need to adapt an idea to the local market. But you don't want to get into any legal tussles.
4. Take on someone's else's baby
If you're really stuck for ideas, it may be easier to take something that's already up and running. Buy or franchise an existing business, or - if you're into this kind of thing - test your selling skills with a party plan business. Tupperware, anyone?
Got a great idea? Want to share it? Let us know!
How do you find that idea? Some people are ideas people, some people are implementing-ideas people. Some people have a dozen ideas and no time to follow them through.
If you want to start your own venture, but you're not sure where to start, here's a few different approaches.
1. Love what you do
If you're going to be good at something, and if you want to commit all your precious kid-free time to it. you need to really love it. So make a list of all the things you enjoy - your hobbies, if you like. It could be anything from shopping to making muesli. Then make a list of all the things you are actually good at. You might want to ask a friend or your partner about this, it help to get another perspective.
They might say something like "you're really great at helping people work out a solution." Have you thought about counselling? Or "you're a good communicator". How about sales, journalism, or marketing consulting?
2. Visualise the future
This is what my dad told me to do when I was 14. Close your eyes, and imagine yourself 10 years from now. Where are you, what are you doing? My brother imagined himself in a red sports car surrounded by gorgeous blondes. He's not quite Sam Mendes as yet, but he is a theatre director.
3. Seek inspiration
You've spied a gap in the market. How to fill it? Start shopping online - check out what's hot in the UK, Europe or the US. Read international magazines, talk to people who've been there. There's a great idea out there that hasn't yet reached our shores. Don't copy it outright - you may decide to become a distributor of a great new product, or you may need to adapt an idea to the local market. But you don't want to get into any legal tussles.
4. Take on someone's else's baby
If you're really stuck for ideas, it may be easier to take something that's already up and running. Buy or franchise an existing business, or - if you're into this kind of thing - test your selling skills with a party plan business. Tupperware, anyone?
Got a great idea? Want to share it? Let us know!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
What is a mumtrepreneur, anyway?
Back in 2007, a survey of 2000 new mums by Tesco's baby and toddler club found that a whopping 50% of them were thinking of starting up their own business.
The media has branded them 'mumtreprenuers'. But what makes them any different from other small business owners? And why aren't there 'dadtreprenuers'?
The truth is that any woman running a small business and raising kids at the same time has different set of priorities. And they may face different challenges. But that doesn't make them any less successful. Quite the opposite, in fact. As the saying goes, 'if you want something done, ask a busy person.'
Mumtrepreneurs may get their brilliant business idea when they see a gap in the market - because they suddenly have quite different needs and time to explore their options. Or they may choose to start a business so they don't have to answer to a boss when a child is ill, or when they want to go to the school play. But none of this diminishes their position in the market. Their businesses grow with their children - and at the same time they create new products and services, pay taxes and even take on employees.
What do you think? And are there any dadtrepreneurs out there?
The media has branded them 'mumtreprenuers'. But what makes them any different from other small business owners? And why aren't there 'dadtreprenuers'?
The truth is that any woman running a small business and raising kids at the same time has different set of priorities. And they may face different challenges. But that doesn't make them any less successful. Quite the opposite, in fact. As the saying goes, 'if you want something done, ask a busy person.'
Mumtrepreneurs may get their brilliant business idea when they see a gap in the market - because they suddenly have quite different needs and time to explore their options. Or they may choose to start a business so they don't have to answer to a boss when a child is ill, or when they want to go to the school play. But none of this diminishes their position in the market. Their businesses grow with their children - and at the same time they create new products and services, pay taxes and even take on employees.
What do you think? And are there any dadtrepreneurs out there?
The rise of the mumtrepreneur
How to raise a small business and small children - without losing your mind
There's a growing number of parents choosing to juggle a new business with a young family. The media has dubbed them 'mumtrepreneurs'. This blog is for all of us - mums and dads - who at some point, usually around 3am when changing another nappy or feeding the baby for the umpteenth time, experience that lightbulb moment.
It could be the result of sleep-deprived insanity. But it's an idea for a business. And so it grows, until you find yourself taking sales calls while you're on the school run.
Why do we do it? Most of us believe it's a way to achieve the perfect work-life balance. But that see-saw will tip both ways, every day, while you find that equilibrium.
So whether you're still trying to think of your new business idea, or you've already made space in the playroom for a home office corner, you'll find some tips and ideas in this blog.
Which I promise I'll update at least weekly. In between my work deadlines and the next basket of laundry, of course.
There's a growing number of parents choosing to juggle a new business with a young family. The media has dubbed them 'mumtrepreneurs'. This blog is for all of us - mums and dads - who at some point, usually around 3am when changing another nappy or feeding the baby for the umpteenth time, experience that lightbulb moment.
It could be the result of sleep-deprived insanity. But it's an idea for a business. And so it grows, until you find yourself taking sales calls while you're on the school run.
Why do we do it? Most of us believe it's a way to achieve the perfect work-life balance. But that see-saw will tip both ways, every day, while you find that equilibrium.
So whether you're still trying to think of your new business idea, or you've already made space in the playroom for a home office corner, you'll find some tips and ideas in this blog.
Which I promise I'll update at least weekly. In between my work deadlines and the next basket of laundry, of course.
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