Being young and inexperienced can be intimidating for stay-at-home entrepreneurs, but that doesn’t mean you’re making mistakes.
Fresh out of college at 23, I thought I’d done something wrong when the wholesaler for my stationery company assigned me a personal representative. I was the busy mom of a 2-year-old and had just returned home to the mess left in the wake of last-minute packing when the rep showed up.
I was mortified when the rep walked into my home. He was shocked, too, but the experience marked my first success as an official business. That moment was the beginning of a great work relationship.
Though it turned out well, my first years in business would have been much happier if I hadn’t had to deal with my own painful feelings of self-doubt, embarrassment, and guilt.
The good news is that no stay-at-home entrepreneur needs to feel that way, and here’s my six tips for maintaining professionalism in business without sacrificing—or feeling guilty about—family.
6 tips for women for managing business and family
1) Don’t apologize for your kids.
We need to stop apologizing for our kids’ squawks and energy while we’re on the phone or in meetings. Kids are kids and to them, Mommy is Mommy, and their home is their home 24/7. If anything, we can all learn from our children and lighten up during business chats.
2) Don’t pick up the phone until you’re ready.
I used to think I had to say yes to everyone, including the telephone whenever it rang. Don’t answer the phone if you’re not ready to speak. If it’s important, the caller will leave a message.
3) Add a disclosure message to your call-answering service.
My disclosure message informs callers that chat or email are the quickest ways to reach me. Email is quickly becoming everyone’s preferred method of communication anyway. A bonus from using it is that we all have a digital trail that helps us stay organized.
4) Say no and don’t apologize for doing so.
You can say no to lots of things like PTA meetings and extra bake sales for your kids’ school. When you say yes to those things, you are saying no to your business. You have to think of your new business as if you are your own boss. Would you ask your boss for a day off so you can sell cupcakes? Probably not.
5) Pick a neutral location.
If you need to have business meetings in person, I suggest choosing a neutral place like a coffee shop. Don’t hold business meetings in your home. If you can avoid it, don’t go to other people’s office. If you’re negotiating, this can give them a home-field advantage.
6) Just say it.
I continue to attend trade shows. When I tell companies that I work from home, they might give me an indifferent attitude and hastily move on to chat up a brick-and-mortar owner. If this happen, I simply take my business elsewhere. I know the value of my business, and so will another vendor.
What’s worked for you?
Today’s guest contributor is Renae Christine, business owner, journalist, Mompreneur,author and speaker.
