This post is for all the stay-at-home moms (and dads!) out there – particularly the ones who work in direct sales.
Let me just start off by saying this: I don’t know how people think you can be productive working from home with little kids running around.
I just don’t. I remember that, before having children, I thought, “This is going to be great! I’ll work from home while the kids nap, I’ll be able to make their lunches, I’ll have the house nice and tidy and I’ll be able to ensure that my kids are well-behaved humans. And I’ll get my job done, too!”
Riiiiiiiiight.
Let’s get real here, moms and dads. Working from home when you have kids can be rough. Most of the time it feels completely impossible to get anything done when the kids are home.
So that begs the question… how can you run a successful WineShop at Home business when you’re a stay-at-home parent? Well, I’ve been doing it for the last 9+ years and I have some ideas on that very subject.
Step 1: Realize Your Own Limitations
The moment I finally came to terms with the fact that I don’t have to do everything – and heck, let’s be honest: I cannot do everything – my life improved tenfold.
Why? Because I finally admitted to myself that I needed help, and when I started getting help (cue angels singing) everything changed for the better!
For me, that help comes in several forms: sometimes it means hiring a business coach to help me prioritize my business to-do list. Sometimes it’s about hiring a babysitter during the weekdays in the summer so I can keep my kids busy while I work in my home office. Other times it’s all about getting the housekeeper to come by and deep-clean my bathrooms, or even hiring a dog walker to make sure that the dog is all taken care of.
Having extra help seriously boosts my productivity – and it’s such a relief to just admit that I don’t have the ability to juggle all these things successfully at once. I get it, not everyone can hire help but I’m betting you can trade for it. Trade sitting with a friend who also has kids, find a friend or two and double cook certain nights so they don’t have too and have them return the favor. Walk the dog when you’re doing something else, like listening to a conference call and clean the house….well, hire your kids for that or cook an extra tasting to pay for the housekeeper once a month. Consider mother’s helpers. When I was recently off my feet for 12 weeks with a broken ankle, a neighbors daughter took my dog for playdates.
Step 2: Just do My Very Best
Look, I’m human, too. Many days go by when I feel guilty for not spending more time with my kids – but Momma’s gotta work! I’ve found that simply doing my best is good enough. Sometimes I don’t make it to every bake sale, and sometimes I have to miss bedtime because I’m at a wine tasting.
But you know what? I know that I’m doing my very best, every single day – and I’m cool with that. My kids even get involved and help me with my business and that’s probably the coolest part.
Step 3: Remember that the Business Supports the Family
Speaking of guilt, this is my final piece of advice: remember that when you spend time working on your business (and away from your kids), you’re earning money that will be used to benefit your children in one way or another. Whether you’ve joined WineShop at Home so that you can pay off debt, save for a stunning family vacation, or simply not feel so stressed out about money every month, your choice will benefit your kids.
A happy mom or dad is a good parent.
None of this is to say that it’s “easy” but doable? Definitely! If you’ve been looking for a way to earn money in the wine business, let’s talk – WineShop at Home may be a perfect fit for your lifestyle. Click HERE to connect with me directly.