How to Hold the Space Between Boss and Mom
Today on the Zimmerman Podcast, we’re looking back at episode 003, all about boundaries.
Specifically, how on earth can you be a good mom and a good business owner at the same time? I haven’t always been good at walking this fine line, and to be honest, there are still weeks when I struggle.
My business and my children are totally separate, but also very intertwined. How can this be true? My business makes me a better mom and allows me to have a flexible work routine so I can show up for my kids. Similarly, being a mom totally determined the type of business I wanted to create, and my children continue to determine the trajectory of business today.
I want to let you in on the ways I’ve struggled to balance being a mom with owning my own business, and how I learned to set boundaries to do both well. I’ll be giving you some practical ways you can begin to make positive changes, too!
Check out the full episode here.
So let’s jump in!
This past summer, I decided to fully embrace the mom life. During the school year, my kids are in school all day. I get my work done in the hours between drop off and pick up. My kids were in full time preschool so in the summer months, we were on the same schedule. Until this year.
Ever since my oldest Stella was born, I’d made it my goal to take the whole summer off with the kids before she started first grade. This summer, I was finally at a point where I could, for the most part, take off for three months.
It felt amazing to finally reach this huge goal I’d had for five years. And while I was super proud of myself, I’ll be the first to admit that I was craving our normal routine by the end of July.
Making changes
I know that this is something that most working parents struggle with. How do we invest in our businesses while also investing in our children? How do we know when it’s time to check our email and when it’s time to close the computer and play blocks on the floor?
Freeing myself up to be a good mom was literally why I went into business for myself. When I dreamed of an entrepreneurial life, I wanted to spend my days exactly how I wanted and needed to. I wanted to travel as a family and create my own schedule. Now, I’ve made that dream a reality. But when I first acquired my business, things looked a little different.
Finally I realized that if I wanted to make money and sustain healthy boundaries, I needed to treat my business like a business.
5 Ways to build your business and be present to your family
Here’s 5 things I’ve done to build a seven figure business while prioritizing my kids and family.
Don’t feel guilty about sending your kids to school or getting help with childcare in order to give yourself dedicated time for work. My kids have always gone to school. They love that social stimulation, and I love my solo work time. When I’m home, I’m 100% home and when I’m at work, I’m 100% there. I can be more present at both because my time is predictable, and I don’t have to squeeze in work throughout the day.
If you can’t get daily time away, get at least one block of time each week that you can devote solely to your work. If that means getting help once a week for 4 hours, trust me you’ll get more done in that dedicated time than trying to fit work into your schedule a little at a time because let’s face it, no one is good at multitasking.
Have a set routine. This helps creates predictability and flexibility. My routine often looks similar to this:
8am
I arrive at my studio and have time to set my intentions for the day, decide what’s most important and get the work done that only I can do.
9am
Team meeting
10am
Client meetings (by meeting with my clients later in the day, I ‘m able to give a client enough notice if I need to reschedule for my family).
12pm
Lunch
After lunch
Check email (if I can answer it in 2 min or less, I do it and file it away or delete it, if needs more attention it stays in my inbox).
Last 30 minutes of the day
I get ready for the next day (create lists for tomorrow, update my schedule and clean up my workspace in order to start the next day fresh).
After work
I get to go home and be a mom to my kids and a wife to husband.
Know when to break the routine. If one of my kids get sick, I can unapologetically cancel meetings, knowing that my family is my top priority. I have my own business so that I can prioritize them and take time when I need to – if that means stealing a few hours from work in order to have one-on-one time with my kids, then I’m able to do that.
Hire a team. I can’t say this enough – hiring a team in the most important thing you can do for your business… you can’t grow without the support of a team.
Make business decisions with your “why” in mind. Ask yourself: “Why did I go into business in the first place?” For me, it was to have as much time as possible outside of my work for those that I love. When a decision comes up that takes me away from my “why” of more time for my family, it’s a clear “no” for me.
Business becomes black and white when we’re committed to our boundaries and decisions. When we stay committed to our reasons, good things happen and truly believe we have to say no for better yeses to come along. So, make decisions with your why in mind.
I hope this episode helps all you working moms who are trying to grow your business and raise your kids. Take these 5 tips to heart, and incorporate them into your own business and start seeing some big changes!
Show notes & links
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Free Guide
I’ve created a free guide to help you create a morning routine to start your day right. Win the morning, win the day! To check it out, go to zimmermanpodcast.com/morning.