BradEgeland.com
  • Welcome
  • Blog
  • Expertise
  • Resume
  • Software / Service Reviews
  • Contact
  • Videos
  • Books / White Papers
  • Mentoring Contact Form
  • Awards/Recognition
  • Templates & Downloads
  • Clients
  • Professional Services
  • Past Survey Results

5 Tips: 1 House, 2 Small Businesses, 4 Small Children

4/12/2022

0 Comments

 
I’m re-running this because I believe there are people out there who can use this information. I first ran this article in 2012, but we now have 6 small children and are down to 1 small business. Please read on…


Running a small business can be very rewarding and definitely gives you flexibility and a sense of purpose that is far different from what you can get from your typical 9 to 5 office job. It’s not for the faint of heart…not even close. But if you’re up for it, there’s nothing like it in the world.


What about two small businesses? What happens when both are run from home as one-person entities (husband has one, wife has one) and you throw small children into the mix? Chaos? Sometimes. Impossible? No. Interesting? Definitely.


I’m an independent IT and business strategy consultant…a self-professed “Business Solution Designer.” My wife is a professional photographer. We have nine kids and four of them are four years old or younger. And seven of the nine still live at home. Yes, we have some older children at home who can help watch the small ones throughout the day - and yes, we do pay them – but there is a strategy. Here are five tips to make this – or a similar situation - work in your home…


Wear the kids out first


We not only have 9 kids, 2 small businesses, and 4 small children, but we also homeschool our kids. Right now, that’s really just our 14-year-old daughter and she’s old enough that her school is pretty self-directed and it’s all online, thankfully. And our oldest two at home – a 17 year old daughter and a 20 year old son, are CLEPping their way through the first three-fourths of college (saving them a ton of time and us a ton of money) so we have three kids around much of the time who are 14 and older and provide us with a lot of toddler watching assistance. That said, I still make it a point to take all four youngest ones to the park nearly every work day for about an hour to literally ‘wear them out.’ They love it, I get some walking exercise and cherished kid-time, and when I return the little ones are ready for a treat and some relaxation. And they are much quieter than they were an hour ago. That usually means my workday doesn’t start till around 10am (unless, of course, I have something specific scheduled with a client), but I can be productive from then on and interruptions are minimal.


As for my wife, she sets specific days aside for photo shoots, editing, and customer interaction. She only shoots on Thursdays…period. Adhering strictly to that schedule is critical or normal household functionality will fail right along with the business. Organization is a must.


Assign chores and do them


The household must, of course, run smoothly. That means no excuses for a dirty house, laundry lying around, toys all over the place, and messy offices. Everything runs more smoothly and more productively when you’re working in an aesthetically pleasing environment. Assign chores – not just to your kids – but to yourself as well and be accountable and get them done BEFORE the workday begins…unless, of course, you absolutely must be on a 7am conference call. But don’t make the exception the norm, or you will get off track and start the day frustrated rather than energized and ready to perform.


Don’t bite off more than you can chew


Watch out for the commitments you make. Make them, but don’t over extend yourself. If you’re a single person running a business out of your home, that’s one thing. But when you’re working in the middle of a family with small children and periodic interruptions AND your spouse is also running a business, don’t plan yourself for 100% utilization. It will never happen. And yes, just know that you’ll find yourself working at 2am and on the weekends more than you wanted to, but if you enjoy what you’re doing it works out.


Stick to what you’re good at


You’re good at what you do, right? You must be or you wouldn’t still be in business. But if you’re not an accountant or doing your taxes drives you crazy and takes you away from your business, then hire it out. Get a maid if you have to. Get a nanny to help watch the small children during some daytime work hours, if necessary. Hire a marketing firm to put together some PR pieces and marketing material. If it is a struggle for you and a potential failure point in your business, do yourself a favor and look into hiring it out.


Bounce ideas off each other


If you are two separate people running two separate businesses, use each other as mini-focus groups. Bounce ideas off of each other. Not all day long, of course…and certainly try not to do it all evening long either because you’ll be frustrated having what little free time you might have taken up with helping each other (see the statements about outsourcing marketing and other services above). But you need outside eyes and ears on what you’re doing from time to time. Your spouse may see things from a ‘customer-perspective’ that you would otherwise miss.


Never stop innovating


Finally, never stop innovating. You may or may not be doing all of your own marketing, but always keep your finger on the dial of what is working not working with your clients and customers. What do they seem to be responding to? How can you package your offerings differently to draw in a few new customers who are on the fence? What questions have they been asking you? Every customer question can lead to a potential new service.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author:

    Picture

    Brad Egeland


    Named the "#1 Provider of Project Management Content in the World," Brad Egeland has over 25 years of professional IT experience as a developer, manager, project manager, cybersecurity enthusiast, consultant and author.  He has written more than 8,000 expert online articles, eBooks, white papers and video articles for clients worldwide.  If you want Brad to write for your site, contact him. Want your content on this blog and promoted? Contact him. Looking for advice/menoring? Contact him.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    November 2009

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.