Family/Work Balance: Balancing a Family While Starting a Business or Two

Why do most people start their own business? More than likely it's one of three reasons: To be financially free, to be their own boss, or to have more time with family and do the things they love to do.

Whatever the reason, the starting stages of a business are extremely demanding and stressful. One question that seems to always come up is, "How do I balance time between family and the business?" If you are like me, you are starting a business, but want to minimize the short term time loss with your family.

If you feel stressed out and like you are in over your head at times, good. That means you are being persistent and driving towards a goal. Always remember one thing, enjoy the journey. It's not about the end result. It gets frustrating at times not seeing progress or goals met, but think about what you are learning and the steps you have taken to get to where you currently are.

Here are three tips to help you through these demanding times.

1. Set priorities. You have to make a decision on what means the most to you. If everything in your life is a priority, nothing will be. Spend the majority of your time on your first, second, and third priorities. If something comes up that doesn't fall within those priorities, don't spend any time on it until you have completed your tasks for your first three priorities.

2. Make a schedule. My husband and I have two small children, ages 2 and 1. Our kids know when it's time for a nap and time for bed; we've had a schedule since the time our oldest was born. We don't have any problems with them falling asleep. They know what we expect and we stick to it. We aren't so rigid that we don't change once in a while, but then it's a treat. The time you spend on your business should be the same way. Tell yourself and your family that you plan to spend X amount of time working on a particular issue or project. Then spend only that time on it, regardless if you completed it or not. The issue will be there when you come back to it. Remember that Rome wasn't built over night and your business won't be either.

3. Take breaks. Don't think if you step away from the computer or take thirty minutes to grab a bite to eat and take a short walk, that everything you have just worked on will disappear on you. I've realized taking thirty to sixty minutes and going for a walk with my kids, has greatly increased my focus and has lowered my stress level. Fresh air does wonders for your mind and your body. Sometimes, the biggest breakthroughs will happen when you return with a fresh mind.

Remember, time is one thing you will never get back. You need to spend it wisely. It's the one thing that it seems everyone around us wants of ours. Ultimately, you are in control of where you spend your time. One thing to think about, what do you want to be thinking on your death bed, "I wish I spent more time working" or "I wish I would have spent more time with my family"? When in doubt, spend your time with your first priority.

Elizabeth and her husband Eric Shoop are the owners of First Kids Furniture. Not only do they sell unique furniture for kids, they also provide some great resources for parents! They're also the visionaries for Build On The Rock Ministries.

Networking Etiquette

Too many times business owners can become overly confident in their networking abilities. Others may not understand the purpose of networking and go with the idea they have to sell, sell, sell to everyone they meet. In actuality, the success of your networking depends on how you conduct yourself during the event. Here are a few tips to make sure you're remembered favorably after a networking event:

1. Arrive on time or no more than 5 minutes late. Believe it or not, late arrivers sometimes have trouble feeling part of the group.
2. Re-introduce yourself to people you've already met at past events. Many times people are too embarrassed to admit they forgot your name, so this takes the pressure off.
   
3. Make sure you stand tall, shake hands and smile during any re-introduction or introduction.
   
4. Try to meet as many people as you are able.
5. Don't monopolize any one person for more than ten minutes.
   
6. Only approach groups of three or more (two people may be having a private conversation).
   
7. Exchange business cards ONLY after you've established rapport with the other person.
8. If you've promised to send information or do something for someone, follow through.
9. When you leave, remember to thank your host or hostess.

Networking is important to the success of any business, even if your business is focused on ecommerce. In an upcoming post, we'll share how you should evaluate and select the networking events and associations that are right for the growth of your business.

Fusion Marketing: Loyalty Programs

Don't you just love programs where everyone benefits? Creating a fusion marketing strategy that benefits everyone involved is a simple process, but it's not easy. It takes commitment, follow-through and constant evaluation. An official Loyalty Program is a more formal way to offer discounts to customers.

At the heart of any "added value program" is the need of your customers. If people already are using your products and services, wouldn't it be nice to give them something in return for their loyalty. And, that loyalty reward program does not necessarily have to cost you. Your fusion partners are important elements in this equation. You may choose partners who are targeting a very specific segment of the market.

The process can be a bit laborious but it is worth the effort.

• Survey your current customers to determine what businesses, in addition to yours, they most often use.
• Consider who you know and respect in those other businesses categories
  
• Invite these business owners to meet to discuss what they would be willing to offer customers and what they would be willing to do to facilitate the program.
• Create a promotional piece that reflects all business offers. This piece should be used by all participating businesses.
• All must commit to honoring all referrals and leads that are generated as a result of this program.
• Determine ways you can promote this program to all your customers - give promotional piece to each customer, include in all print and internet communications, include in advertising campaigns, do a press release about the program.
• Schedule regular meetings, either in person or via teleconference, to determine effectiveness and success of the program
• Don't expect an immediate return on your effort. Give the program time. It may take six months or more for customers to become aware of and comfortable with the program.

One business we are working with offers prenatal and postpartum family support. They have considered other businesses that may be targeting this specific audience - pregnant women and those who have recently delivered. Their plan is to anticipate the needs of these families and provide resources and solutions to potential concerns and challenges. They have reached out to a nanny provider, house cleaner, errands runner, gift company, photographer, financial planner, parent coach and fitness expert to offer special discounts to their clients. They have produced a booklet describing the businesses, how they can help a new family, contact information and discount being offered.

Workload and cost is shared among the group. The key to success is the commitment on the part of all participants to use the materials created and to introduce the program to every client they meet. Everyone benefits!

Pam Small is the owner of Refresh & Renew - A Resource for Women. Having a heart for women's issues, Pam is quickly becoming the go-to person for helping small business owners target their marketing efforts to this powerful buying group. For more info, visit www.refreshandrenew.com or email Pam at psmall@refreshandrenew.com.

Business owners give back immeasurably more than they get.

We wanted to do a special edition of our blog to celebrate Labor Day.

Small businesses are the backbone of this Country's economy, and we celebrate you for all your hard work and dedication. We also celebrate all the ways you give back to your communities and various causes. We're certain you've donated a product or service at one time or another just to help out someone in need. You didn't publicize doing it either. You saw a need and you met it.

I'd like to feature some business owners who have made "giving back" a regular part of doing business. I also want to let you know about some community projects and various organizations that could use your help right now. Our hope is that you will read a story and be motivated to help in any way you can, even if it's just to tell someone else.

John O'Connor, Shade Tree Garage

Supports Research for ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease)

At the age of 52, John O'Connor's brother, Gary, was diagnosed with ALS. A very active and vibrant man, this diagnosis was a shock, not only to him, but also to his family. Since then, the entire family has rallied around Gary and has been working hard to help raise funds for the Robert Packard Center; the only one of its kind dedicated solely to finding new therapies to slow or cure ALS.

Because ALS is so rare (only 10,000 diagnosed yearly) and so deadly (2-5 years after diagnosis), there is very little fundraising that goes on and this disease is overlooked by the pharmaceutical companies because it is not a "money maker." Unfortunately, the outlook for someone diagnosed with ALS is the same today as it was in 1938, when Lou Gehrig was diagnosed.

John owns Shade Tree Garage, an automotive repair shop in Morristown, NJ. This past year, during the months of March and April, John donated a portion of the sale of each oil change to the Robert Packard Center for ALS Research.

He didn't stop there. Each year, John and every able-bodied family member participates in the Fiesta 5K held every year in Baltimore to raise money for the Packard Center. Last year, Team Low & Slow (so named after Maryland Terps and a Navy helicopter reference) was 53 strong and raised a substantial amount for the Packard Center.

This year, just like last, O'Connor's family descended on Baltimore from CA, DC, IN, IO, ME, MD, MA, NJ, NY, NC, VA, and WV for the Fiesta 5K. This year, Team Low & Slow raised $21,000, bringing their total in the last three years to over $50,000!

Antony Njoroge
Tumaini African Foundation and Angels of Mercy Ministry in Kenya

Thanks for your concern and care. I want to give you a glimpse of Tumaini (TAF). We are situated in one of the Nairobi informal settlements. Most of us came to this place after our homes were demolished in 1990-1991. It was so much of a wilderness. Until recently the place had neither water nor electricity. Sewage and drainage are not mentioned here. Nevertheless the community has worked hard and today Soweto is one of the first growing informal settlements in terms of development. Most families are headed by single mothers.

In such conditions, poverty and lack of education have stood as the greatest barrier. We have come in to provide leadership and change within our community. We have chosen to invest on the youth, teenagers and kids. We provide a community Sunday school with an interdenominational approach.

If you pray with us and help us where you can on these, you shall indeed be transforming lives. For me as an individual my greatest desire is to see the lives of these kids become better than the life I lived as a child. Having been brought up in a single mother headed family, I would not wish the agony I went through to any kid. Given that the group cannot support any salary we all of us work as volunteers. The only challenge I have as the visionary is the fact that I have to be there in most cases and allow the rest to and try to make their ends meet. If you can pray for to be able to set up a business or get a part time job I would be very glad.

Here are some of the things they face and their needs:

• Some kids go to school without shoes and with tattered clothes.
• There is an inadequacy of books (text books and writing materials).
  
• Some kids lack school fees hence high drop out.
• We don't have Bibles and other spiritual teaching aids.
• Those who take parts in sport have no sports kits.
• Due to high poverty level some kids go at times without meals at worst and with a single meal at best.
• Yesterday in our back-to-school prayer, people cried when it was mentioned that girls in our group suffer because of a lack of sanitary towels. It was painful to hear of ladies who use tissue paper and miss school even a whole week.

How you can help:

If you would like to start a collection at your business location for anything mentioned above, item donations would be greatly appreciated. Email me, Anne Lazo, and I will put you in touch with Antony.

Eric and Elizabeth Shoop
Owners of First Kids Furniture are the Visionaries for Build On The Rock Ministries

Eric and Elizabeth Shoop are strongly motivated to give back and follow the words expressed by God, that "Pure and faultless religion is to look after orphans and widows in their distress" James 1:27.

There are many orphaned children around the world who need homes where they can feel safe and warm and be well-fed. That's the mission of Build On The Rock Ministries - To globally empower Christians to construct and maintain Christian children's homes and coeducational institutes around the world. These homes will be used to spiritually nurture homeless children through the age of 18 with the Word of God and educate these children in a social, mental, physical, and financial need so that they can lead a fulfilling and productive life.

Eric and Elizabeth recently applied with the NGO council to start building homes in Africa. They will also soon be completely documents to do the same in India. After that, they will go wherever the Lord leads and there's a need.

How does this young couple support this large vision? In addition to the traditional ways of fundraising for a non-profit corporation, they are working diligently to grow their small business, First Kids Furniture. Their business is strictly on-line and they sell unique and fun furniture for kids. They also provide a lot of resources for parents.

Here are some ways you can help:

• Refer First Kids Furniture to parents you know.
  
• Partner with them on one of their fundraisers. They can show you how you can help by selling candles or Samaritan cards to your friends, family, and church.
• They are currently in need of an international lawyer's advice. If you can meet this need, consider donating your time.
  

To learn about more opportunities to partner with this vision, visit their web site. You can also show your support by becoming a Facebook fan of Build On The Rock.