The Multi-Tasked Businesswoman: Surviving and Thriving-Part 2

By Fairy Hayes-Scott

As I wrote in my previous blog post, the multi-tasked businesswoman is also known as the  "sandwiched entrepreneur" and this is because women sometimes find themselves "sandwiched" in between taking care of their children and their parents or other senior family members. 

If you're a businesswoman and believe that you will be the primary caregiver of a senior loved one, strongly urge your loved one to set up a living will trust with your being the Executer; this will save you a lot of time by not having to deal with Probate Court. 

Now, if your loved one refuses this air-tight legal method, try to convince him or her at least to set up a basic will. Is this really necessary? Yes, indeed. Whenever assets or money are involved, everything needs to be clearly specified. 
Additionally, if you are the primary caregiver, make sure your name is on a "medical power of attorney" because you want to make sure you have access to your loved one's medical records. 

Let me emphasize that it is best to have this covered before any of this is necessary.  As you attempt to prepare for the future, you must also focus on the present. One of the most important – if not THE MOST important – job a businesswoman has to handle is raising children while fulfilling her entrepreneurial dreams.

If you're a businesswoman and mother, you may be putting your all into your work. However, what good is being a success if your children are going to "hell in a hand basket"? Now, do not let anyone tell you that you can't do both. You can! 

Just like anything that is important to you, you have to strategize and work hard at it. Being a mother and not owning a business is a challenge by itself. Being a businesswoman and mother is "more than a notion." A lot is dependent on your children's age as well as how many children you have. 

If you find yourself in a quandary when it comes to your kids and your business, here are 5 tips to consider:

1. Consider holding off on starting your business if you have an infant. Newborns require constant care. So, it may be best to hold off from actually starting your business until your little one is about 1 year old or 2 years old and you have established some clear routine with your child and have established a good child care situation. 

2. Establish a good relationship with your children's teachers. When your children start attending school, no matter what age, make certain you have a good relationship with your children's teachers and with the principal. You need to have an interest in your children's education and be informed by those who are providing that education to your children. 

3. Know the friends and families with whom your child associates. Some people will say, "You don't have to worry as much when they are teens; they are almost grown!" Wrong! There is no age that one can be lax; every age has its own challenges. This is why, with every age group, it's important to know your children's friends and their families. 

4. Involve your children in your company if they show any interest. One of the best ways you can involve your children is with the technology that you use in your company. Depending on the age, they can be some of your best "tech support" authorities. Of course, you do not want to share your confidential financial or other information with them, but they are great in helping you with computer technicalities. As a way to thank them for their help, pay them because this is a great way of giving them give them a sense of responsibility and sense of worth. Now having said this, be careful not to burden your child with these responsibilities. It is important to remember that they are children and need to have time to do their homework and school and extracurricular activities they enjoy.

5. Attend your child's activities. Just as you make attending a meeting with a client a top priority, you have to do the same with your children's activities. Make the necessary arrangements to attend the ballet recitals, band performances, hockey, basketball and football games. Kids have long memories and they will remember when you attended – or didn't attend – their activities.

Above all, spend time with your children. At least once a week, designate some "catch up" time to listen to your children's concerns. And don't forget– take a vacation and bring your kids along. Once your children know they will have the one-on-one time consistently with you, this will really solidify communication and peace in the your home!

While what I have shared is general, if you have questions specific to your company, your multi-tasking as a businesswoman, partner, mother, and caregiver, I offer consulting services. Feel free to visit my webpage at http://marketingnewauthors.biz/business-consulting-for-women-owned businesses.


Dr. Fairy Hayes-Scott is an author and owner of MarketingNewAuthors.com and its parent company, Robbie Dean Press. Dr. Hayes-Scott is also the author of "Effective Team Building Activities for the Pumpkin and/or Sweet Potato Pie Lovers."