The Great Balancing Act

Anyone who is a parent and owns a business know the struggle of "The Great Balancing Act". If you are like Jason and I, this balance resembles a teeter totter. Sometimes it drops the the ground on the family side and sometimes the business side. You are getting ready for an important meeting, the kind that can make or break your goals. Then, you get a phone call. Someone has had an accident that will require medical attention. You have a project due and all of the sudden you get caught up the whirlwind that is life. You have to make a decision... do you focus on work or do you focus on family?

If only I could waive a magic wand and say a few nonsensical words, then POOF! Life would balance out, all the chaos would be brought to calm and peace would reign supreme. So, how does a business owner balance out the needs of their clients or customers and the pressing needs of a family? Well, like every other thing in life that requires focus, you must set up boundaries however,  you must be willing to be flexible. Does this mean that your clients get the back seat all the time or does it mean that they get "shot gun" (slang in the Faulkner clan for sitting in the front seat)? I think that what this really means is to remember who you are and that life is messy.

If you think that you are always going to be on time to every appointment, or you think that you will never miss a track meet...ever... you will be a rugged mess and so will your family and your business too. Here are my top ten tips for balancing:

1. Have a calendar - preferably electronic- and put BOTH your family and business obligations on it.

2. Color code business/family/personal events and appointments different color blocks

3. Determine what your work hours will be and then stick to it!

4. If a family event comes up and you need to take some work time to take care of your family put the event into your calendar. Track your time and evaluate what is taking up your work hours. Maybe some changes can be made to create more of an environment of personal responsibility.

5. If a work event takes family time away, be also evaluating the events and network groups that might be affecting your family. Are they necessary? Do they bring you new business or connect you stronger and closer to your target market? If not, make the cut. Take it out of your calendar.

6. Create an environment at home and at work that can be successful. Don't overbook yourself in either area. Not only do you teach your children to overbook their lives, but you create a recipe for failure.

7. Choose a day to focus on the menial office tasks ( preferably not the weekend) and the same goes for home chores. For example, do not get in the habit of doing the laundry during work hours. Before you know it all your prime hours are being used to fold clothes! To keep this practice to a minimum determine your hourly rate and then decide if you can afford to fold clothes for $25 or $30 per hour.

8. Although it is good to carve out time for friends too, make sure that you are not supposed to be working when you go for coffee. Would you sit down in a chair visiting for 2 hours if you were working for someone else? Then don't do that to your company either.

9. Make sure you have appropriate daycare for your children during work hours. Whatever you do, do NOT bring your kids to work with you. If you own a storefront company, then not only will you annoy your staff, but you can run off your customers as well.

10. Make sure all your friends and family and children and everyone not related to work knows to call you AFTER work and not during the day. If you get a call, ignore it and then listen to the voice mail. This is difficult, and sometimes you will be chastised for it, but if you get caught up in the stuff of the day during your most productive hours, you will not find the success in business you are looking for. On the same token, make sure all your family and friends are listed in your phone so that you know not to answer work calls during personal or family time as well.

With a little organization and some firm but flexible boundaries you can set yourself up to have success in family, business and life. As with all good things, anything worth anything takes time and effort. Give the time and put in the effort, then watch your life grow.