Juggling a Bouncing Baby and a Business — All at Once!
Guest Article Written by Dean Burgess
Having a baby and starting a business are two of life’s biggest milestones! Doing them at the same time can be a bit of a challenge, but planning and preparation can help ease the way.
Pre-Baby Prep
If possible, it’s wise to take care of as many pre-startup functions as possible prior to your baby’s arrival. This will help ensure you have the structure and operational functions of your business mapped out and can take a bit of time to relax and enjoy your child’s birth, and the early days of life, without worrying about business needs. Start by creating a checklist of everything that needs to be done pre-launch, and prioritize critical functions. By taking this approach, even if your baby makes an early arrival, you’ll still have your strategy in place.
Basic Start-Up Needs
If you need office space or a storefront, secure it and outfit it; you’ll also want a fully operable home office for when it makes more sense to work at the house. A website, social media presence, and customer cultivation strategy are also essential. Branding your company should be a priority, and a banner maker and logo are great ways to differentiate yourself. You can stay on budget by using an online logo maker to help you design an eye-catching image. Just select a style and icon and add your text, and you’ll be able to select from a wide range of options you can then customize with font and color.
Plan Your Childcare
According to Childcare.gov, even if you plan to keep your baby with you at work, there will be times where you’ll need to ensure you have reliable, vetted childcare help available. You may want to hire a nanny, identify an as-needed child care provider service, or find a reputable daycare center in close proximity to your home or office. To make things easier on yourself, have a fully transportable childcare system that you can take with you as necessary. Having duplicates of things like a travel crib, playpen, clothing, and diapers, both in the workplace and at home, can make it easier to move back and forth as necessary.
When Baby Arrives
Once your child arrives, set aside time to focus on your new family. This is a wonderful bonding time you won’t want to miss. According to Parents, it will also help you start getting into a new rhythm and routine and begin establishing a schedule, to the degree possible. Hire out for everything you can afford to buy more personal time. For example, grocery and meal delivery services, housekeeping, dog-walking, and professional services - these are all well worth the investment in the early days of new parenthood and new business ownership. Stock up on comfortable clothing too, particularly anything that can carry over into your business life. Think flowy tunics, high-waisted leggings and cozy cardigans.
Expand Your Skills
If you’re home during any or part of your pregnancy, or if you work from home after the baby arrives, use the time you’d normally spend commuting to work or work-related social functions to further your education. Taking online classes to get your MBA in IT or an MS in IT Management can take you to the next level in your career. As Julie Taeko relates in her online forum, technology jobs offer wonderful entrepreneurial opportunities for women, and that field offers the possibility of remote work anywhere from 10% to 100% of the time, which can be ideal for women with young children.
Use Tech to Help
Technology can be a tremendous asset when combining new parenthood with a business startup. Automate as many business functions as possible, including bookkeeping, project management, and customer service. Collaborate with teams via videoconference, and empower staff to handle in-person and hands-on service as needed. Use time management apps to do everything from getting on a schedule at home to ordering baby supplies and booking doctor appointments. Use gadgets to help as well - for example, video baby monitors can help you keep an eye on your child from the touch of your phone!
Launching a business and welcoming a baby are exhilarating, wonderful life-changing events. By planning each step, to the degree possible, and managing your time wisely, you should be well-positioned to enjoy every minute of the ride!
