Balancing business startup with full-time mothering.

I'll be honest I was a mess when I first started on the path of entrepreneurship and a full-time mom.

At first, I was so fired up and excited that I had my computer on the kitchen table, and I'd work every minute I could have at that table.

I was up until 3 or 4 am working after my son had gone to bed, drinking tea.

Then I graduated to having a beer every other night, then a couple glasses of wine. Ya know just something to keep me up and keep the creative mind working! Oh, Lord!

Then the morning came! Shit.

I pushed through this for about a month, still not making millions... nope not even a dollar to be exact!

Well, duh! Business start-up takes time, and a month is ridiculous. I was so excited that I was completely unrealistic with myself!

My eyes were opened when I started to notice my son misbehaving in ways that were unusual. He would do things that he knew he wasn't allowed to do, or just cry over anything and everything.

I also noticed he was being much meaner than a toddler taking over the world normally is.

My reactions to him were unconscious and I was extremely irritable.

When I noticed all this happening and realized that my lack of quality time with him was causing him to feel like an empty vessel, I knew I had to make a change.

Nope, not the one I should have. As you could imagine, I had to go from one extreme to the next before I even got the slightest idea on how to balance my business and my parenting privileges.

* I was going to use the work responsibilities instead of privileges, but it didn't feel right because being a great mom really is a privilege.*

If you are a mompreneur than maybe you can relate? Or maybe I'm the only one who had to learn the hard way?

I went from business, business, business to mom, mom, mom. Dropped my business start-up altogether. I stopped learning and being productive. I made up every excuse in the book to not do any work and I lost belief in myself that I was actually capable of juggling my son, my business and my part time job.

A business is like another child, except they don't entertain each other. They live in separate worlds for the most part (especially during start-up)

So, as a mom who is determined to build something of her own I want to share with you mom's who are in the same place and I am. Maybe you're just starting up, maybe you are ahead of me regarding this topic, or maybe your only a few steps behind. I am hoping that either way we can learn from one-another.

The 5 things that helped me the most.

1. Sit and think. That's it.

I had to sit down and truly put in the time to make my rough schedule (I am terrible at scheduling) realistic, knowing me and my son and what it's going to take to build my online presence and learn marketing.

Due to the fact that my son doesn't sleep well, I decided it was unrealistic to rely on my working hours to be his sleeping hours. So, I decided to invest money into a daycare.

He started half days and now he is full days, 3 times a week. It has changed everything for me when it comes to time management. So even though I am still learning. I can focus on work 3 days a week, and him the other 4 days a week.

I had this idea in my head that it would all be okay because I was doing all this for him! The time I spent away from him working was for a good cause! But once I realized that I can't jeopardize our relationship and our happiness, to build happiness...? That doesn't make sense. Life is happening right now.

All too often we tell ourselves, I will do X, Y, and Z once I make this much money. Or I will spend time with my child when I succeed at X, Y or Z. We cannot put the things or people aside that we love to pursue something when we are pursuing that very thing for them!

Hope I haven't lost you!

So take the time to just think it through!

2. Center Yourself

I also work a part time job at home, doing the books and safety for my husband's company, so I have found myself extremely overwhelmed at times. To the point where I am frustrated and resentful towards the things I'm doing.

The erge of giving up was creeping in all the time, and I would for a couple weeks here and there! I would let my work go... and do nothing! What I am buidling takes consistency, so when I stopped taking action it was literally detrimental.

Once that motivation returned I was even more overwhelmed, I was feeling so hopeless.

Our thoughts and expectations do a wonderful job at running the show, and this can often mislead us. So when I started taking the time to center myself I gained that control back, and more.

Meditation. Yup, I said it. Wow. To honestly be the master of yourself is extremely empowering. This has assisted me in having a clear mind and given me the ability to apply a laser focus on the task at hand.

So, I can only have 1 hour, and still, make the most of it.

Even if you don't know how to meditate yet, just sit in silence and breath. Focus your thoughts on your body and relaxation, one step at a time.

3. Time Management

This is something that I still have a hard time with but when I do succeed I can see the power it has.

If you only have an hour, break it up and work on the things that need your attention. For example;

- work on website 30 minutes
- Do more training on how to use a facebook Pixel 20 minutes
- Call the CRA, the bank, and the accountant 10 minutes

The key now is to STICK TO THE TIME YOU HAVE FOR EACH TASK!

Don't set yourself up for failure, I was very guilty of this for months!

Over-tasking myself or setting my expectations sky high. And then being left feeling discouraged.

When I excepted that as long as I am moving forward than I am succeeding, a lot of weight fell off the shoulders. And I feel much more productive when I actually complete the things I set out for myself.

Leaving me with more drive and motivation

4. Stick to your guns!

As an entrepreneur, sometimes we can be fairly lonely. If you don't have a business partner you can feel as if your on your own. This can be a heavy reality to get used to.

You may experience the disbelief in others voices, or the comments that make you feel like your crazy.

These feelings can often make us crumble under the pressure of exciting invites for drinks with friends, or the social coffee more often than your time can afford.

If I have learned anything, is that people don't have to understand what you are doing if they love you. They only need to be told once that your busy chasing the life you want, and they support you even if they do think you're crazy... they believe in you anyways. So these people will stand strong and the others will fall away.

There is nothing wrong with this because the influence in our lives ultimately determine where we end up, so choose wisely. Cherish the ones that hold strong by your side and wish the best for the ones that fall away.

5. Be patient with yourself.

This my friend is a challenge! Patients... ugh.

If I could purchase patients I'd be broke.

I was constantly being asked a question by someone close to me "so, have you made any money yet?" This question is very daunting and has overwhelmed me with a huge sense of urgency.

This was a negative sense of urgency for me, it caused bad intentions and consistently landed me on the wrong path of action.

But, the only reason it had the power to effect me like that was because I was internally impatient with myself. So, I'd argue now that the comment was sent my way to help me push through this internal challenge and realize that I was being impatient with myself.

The best feeling that I have had since I started on this path was acceptance of the journey.

Be patient with yourself, and enjoy each lesson.

Got any tips for me! I'd Love to hear from you.