As moms in business, we really need to be able to access a ‘shift-state’
Longer days – lovely weather, thunder storms (I love them…) and so much less hassle.
I love gardening, tending to my potted flowers, and even mowing the lawn! I love languishing a good book either swinging in my hammock or sitting somewhere breezy and shady on a hot summer day.
My family is in full summer mode which means many adventures (we just returned from visits to Hershey Park and Gettysburg, PA), new schedules, long weekends (I like to work condensed weeks in summer) and making room for summer hobbies and activities. It also means more visits with friends and family and summer work (both my boys have had to manage several summer assignments in between school sessions to prepare for advanced placement classes!)
As I reflect on all of this, I notice how the seasons affect not just our private and spare time – but our businesses too… Many of my clients have experienced either MORE activity and interest in their businesses for summer, or some have experienced a dramatic drop in engagement, activities and sales due to summer!
For many of us who are moms in business – we know that our shifts are directly related to the school schedules and ages of our kids. As summer expands, so do the needs of our families… and if you are not prepared for these shifts, they can seem a bit daunting and derailing!
As a mom in business, I find myself consistently shifting. I think that’s one of the most critical skills you need to successfully build your business as a mom. Some may call it resiliency, flexibility, or the ability to re-prioritize goals… But what I notice for me (and most of my clients) – is that when there is a gap in the ability to shift with ease, it really takes a toll, not only on business results – but most often on ourselves.
Too often, moms in business fill these gaps caused by shift out of their own energy stores. In so many ways, moms are experts at the grand act of surrender! Sometimes this works in our favor, but too often, we give up our free time in lieu of supporting that additional dance class, or give up our routine workout to get the kids to that early swim team practice, or we let go of our healthy eating lifestyle because we’re running late, and it’s just plain easier to stop at Taco Bell dang it!
[Tweet “‘Shift: the consistent need to adjust the drive speed of your business.’ Cena Block, Mompreneur Mentor”]
As moms in business, we really need to be able to access a ‘shift-state’ and do so without pulling all the shifts out of our own energy account!
And do you know what will help you manage these shifts more effectively?
These eight key ingredients:
- Self-Care Centered – A really healthy mom-run business is one that is centered around self-care. It’s why it’s so important to design your business from the inside-out, and place self-care at the helm. The reality of my life is that my self-care ebbs and flows – I can honestly say that the times that I am most PROFITABLE & productive, effective, efficient, healthiest, and happiest are when I’m putting my own self-care at the center of my day and planning around self-care habits as cornerstones.
- Adaptable Framework – Creating your business framework to be adaptable means that you build your packages, offers and programs to provide sustainability through the cyclical/seasonal shifts. Adaptability breeds reliability… which guarantees long-term business success.
- Strong Systems – Developing strong, reliable systems that make information, administration and service tasks easier help you avoid derailment. Also, creating systems that are replicable by others and built to work while you sleep allows you freedom and flexibility to respond to shifts without having to touch every step.
- Cyclical Planning – Understanding the cycles of an annual calendar and planning for these cycles ongoingly help you avoid the feast/ famine periods in business where you’re twiddling your thumbs in anticipation for that next client or new program.
- Life-Centered Scheduling – Creating business hours, policies and procedures that hold your boundaries strong, serve your overall values and support the lifestyle you want to live… If you don’t respect your own boundaries – no one else will. How can you find them – look for areas in your life where you’re experiencing tension and dissatisfaction, and start remedying those areas first!
- Managing Your Mindset – Mindset is the hidden devil behind every fear, confidence issue, and I’d argue delay… Mindset for mompreneurs is HUGE… (who knew when we started?) – So, learning to observe and recognize your self-talk, internal judge, and limiting beliefs when they rear their ugly ego-heads will help you navigate your emotions, adjust your expectations and adapt your behaviors to maintain the shift accordingly (after all, you did go into business for yourself with ‘flexibility in my schedule’ as a driving motivator… right?)
- Securing Support Layers – Reinforcing your business with real, genuine, talented helpers, supporters and task masters will help you accomplish passive, and non-revenue tasks (such as administrative and marketing duties). One of the lovliest feelings I get as an entrepreneur is the email notification of a completed task that had been delegated… AHH there’s (almost) nothing better!
- Alignment – Periodically examining at your business from the ‘Big Picture’ vantage to ensure all of the parts and pieces are working seamlessly.
Your ‘Shift’ Sanity Assignment
So, how are you doing managing the summer shift?
- Which of the eight area(s) above are causing tension in your life right now?
- Where could you focus to make room for more fun and satisfaction?
- What could you do to create more alignment between business and your life right now?
