Mompreneurs: Part 1: A brave, determined bunch of business women
You have to have a lot of guts to totally redesign your life. Fellas, imagine this. I want you to decide to quit your job or totally change jobs somewhere between 1 month and the next 6 months? That is the reality that hits a lot of new moms. Sometimes after the birth of their child, a woman just decides that there is no way that she could imagine totally leaving that helpless newborn in the care of some complete stranger for 40 hours per week (plus commute time). Blame it on survival of the species. We just aren’t meant to leave a baby alone. (Let’s see you leave your new babe on your front lawn for the next 8 hours. Bet you couldn’t do it.)
The hormone surge that ensues after leaving a child initially equates to feeling like someone is playing ping-pong with your mental capacity for the day. Crying is common. Calling the childcare provider, whoever it is, 5 times per day becomes an instant obsessive-compulsive disorder. Who are we kidding? The first few weeks back at work are useless. We are definitely not thinking about work. Productivity drops to about 20% of our norm.
So, what is a mom to do?
- Go back to work anyway – full-tilt, regular schedule. Ignore the hormones and have bouts of guilt from time to time. “Am I working too much and taking too much time away from my child? “I’m missing their childhood.” “I want to be involved more.” These thoughts can lead some ladies to number 2.
- Get more flexible with work. Many moms find themselves standing up for what they need from their job environment for the first time in their adult careers and perhaps in their adult life. Suddenly, asking to work part-time doesn’t seem crazy. Cutting back expenses to make it happen seems doable. Perhaps telecommuting from home is an option. Changing companies to a workplace that is more flexible makes some moms happier with their work / life balance. For some, they choose option number 3.
- Change careers. Yes, even after a long time on the job, you may suddenly decide that the 60 hour weeks that are typical in your industry are just no longer appealing or doable. It’s time for a career change. Or maybe, you go on to option number 4.
- Become a mompreneur. What is that? A women with a child (or children) that decides to start her own business to earn a living. Many of these businesses are extremely flexible in days and hours. You can set your own schedule. You can take off a day from work without asking if the kids are sick. You can go to soccer clinics, t-ball games and swim practice. You can fit your work in around your life, instead of the other way around. This option is not for the faint of heart or those with a weak stomach. Start-up companies are tough. Ask anyone who has tried it. It takes innovation, creativity, and thinking outside the box. You set the rules and the goals. But therein lies the problem, because you are setting the rules and the goals, that can also be your downfall. You’ll have to learn to be focused. Very focused. It can be a wonderful mission for those who choose to accept it or it can make you think that you’ll go bald from the stress of it. It can be hard to be ladylike and bald, you know.
Let’s face it, sometimes women do not always ask for what they need out of life, work, or relationships. Becoming a mom can absolutely change that. A book I read recently titled, Secrets of Six-Figure Women by Barbara Stanny really hammers this home in an amazing way. (I highly recommend this book for all women especially if right now you make less than $30,000 per year.)
Sit down with a pen and paper and figure out what life you want for your family and you. What situation is truly going to make you happy? At the end of the day, what are your goals for re-designing your work life? More time at home? More flexibility? More money? Same money, less hours? Less commuting? More self-satisfaction? Now then, do some brainstorming and figure out the path to get you there. The path is there you just have to find it. And guess what, there are alot of other moms out there just like you trying to do the same thing!
Post a comment and tell us what type of work arrangement you currently have. Share your work story!
