How Full Time Moms and Dads Can Find Time For a Home Based Business
Can a full time mom or dad possibly find time to work a home-based business to earn a few extra dollars? After all, there never seems to be a minute to spare.
Please indulge this image for a moment.
Let's say you are a full-time parent (meaning you are what folks sometimes call a "stay-at-home" mom or dad).
You've just put your 7-year old on the school bus, your 4-year old is crying because he can't find his stuffed giraffe, and your baby's diaper has just burst at the seams.
The phone rings.
It turns out to be one of your well-meaning friends asking you to look at a business or work from home opportunity - because, after all, you must be looking for something to do "on the side" - aren't you? If you have ever seen yourself somewhere in this picture, raise your hand! The thing is, maybe you have wanted a part-time opportunity to help earn a little extra money from home.
But now - with the kids taking what seems like every moment of your time (and borrowing from time that doesn't even exist yet) - how on earth could you possibly find the time to work a home based business opportunity? For starters, let's look at this idea from the same perspective you may view the job of parenting.
When viewing a "day in the life" of a full-time parent, doesn't it involve the "family calendar" or some such scheduling tool hanging somewhere in your kitchen? You know the one - the one that lists Bobby's Cub Scout meetings, the dentist appointments, Janie's gymnastics class, the parent-teacher conference, next week's barbeque at the neighbors, etc.
The calendar system is so popular because it works.
Ask anyone who is successful in his or her business if they use a calendar or other scheduling device.
Chances are that the answer is a resounding "Yes!" What would happen if you did not follow some sort of calendar or schedule? Chaos and a lot of tearful episodes would occur on a daily basis, wouldn't they? So, let's examine your life as it might look if you did decide to find a home based business opportunity.
Here's how.
Begin with a fresh calendar to work alongside the "family calendar" you already use.
You can make this yourself if you like, or buy a ready-made one.
The important thing is that for each day, you need separate sections for different hours of the day.
For example, your calendar can list each hour of the day, beginning at whatever time your day begins - devoting a line or section for each hour.
If it is easier, you can block off sections of each day.
For example: 8:00 am - 10:00 am; 10:00 am - Noon; Noon - 2:00 pm, etc.
Starting with where you are today, look at the fresh calendar, and compare the days against your family calendar.
Now, on your new calendar, "X out" the parts of each day when something is already scheduled - or when you know there are time commitments (for example, errands, meetings, dinner, getting the kids to bed, etc.
).
Or, you can shade these times in with a pencil.
Whatever works best for you.
These shaded or "X'd out" blocks of time indicate when you cannot do anything extra.
This is when you are already committed to your job as a full-time parent.
When you are done, you should see various unmarked areas where blocks of free time exist.
For example, perhaps there is a regular block of time when your child is at toddler time (assuming you are not doing other errands at that time).
Perhaps Sunday afternoons are open.
Or, you may be free from 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm on a few evenings.
You may notice that you typically watch television at certain times that you could devote to your business instead.
The point is that you want to see when it might be feasible to work a part-time opportunity.
It makes no sense to look at an opportunity if you cannot foresee fitting in the time necessary to do the work.
Many legitimate home based businesses typically require anywhere from 5-10 hours per week of dedicated effort.
So, you need to determine if you can actually dedicate this time.
It doesn't have to be the same 5-10 hours each week - but the hours themselves have to be available if you are going to build a successful business.
If anyone tells you that their opportunity "runs on autopilot" and you don't need to spend any time at it, they are flat-out lying to you.
No business runs on autopilot.
Every business requires time and effort.
This is why it is very important to determine, right at the get-go, whether or not you have time to devote to the effort.
Just as your little one needs diaper changes and cuddles on a regular basis, your business needs attention on a regular basis as well.
You cannot spend an hour placing a one-time advertisement and expect your business to flourish.
You must attend to your marketing efforts again, and again, and again.
So, what's the bottom line? Simply this: Can you find 5-10 hours per week to devote to earning money from home? Do you have the persistence and determination to follow through with your commitment? If so, you are a good candidate for a legitimate home based business opportunity.
Start with the calendar exercise we just reviewed.
At least you'll see where your time goes every week!
Please indulge this image for a moment.
Let's say you are a full-time parent (meaning you are what folks sometimes call a "stay-at-home" mom or dad).
You've just put your 7-year old on the school bus, your 4-year old is crying because he can't find his stuffed giraffe, and your baby's diaper has just burst at the seams.
The phone rings.
It turns out to be one of your well-meaning friends asking you to look at a business or work from home opportunity - because, after all, you must be looking for something to do "on the side" - aren't you? If you have ever seen yourself somewhere in this picture, raise your hand! The thing is, maybe you have wanted a part-time opportunity to help earn a little extra money from home.
But now - with the kids taking what seems like every moment of your time (and borrowing from time that doesn't even exist yet) - how on earth could you possibly find the time to work a home based business opportunity? For starters, let's look at this idea from the same perspective you may view the job of parenting.
When viewing a "day in the life" of a full-time parent, doesn't it involve the "family calendar" or some such scheduling tool hanging somewhere in your kitchen? You know the one - the one that lists Bobby's Cub Scout meetings, the dentist appointments, Janie's gymnastics class, the parent-teacher conference, next week's barbeque at the neighbors, etc.
The calendar system is so popular because it works.
Ask anyone who is successful in his or her business if they use a calendar or other scheduling device.
Chances are that the answer is a resounding "Yes!" What would happen if you did not follow some sort of calendar or schedule? Chaos and a lot of tearful episodes would occur on a daily basis, wouldn't they? So, let's examine your life as it might look if you did decide to find a home based business opportunity.
Here's how.
Begin with a fresh calendar to work alongside the "family calendar" you already use.
You can make this yourself if you like, or buy a ready-made one.
The important thing is that for each day, you need separate sections for different hours of the day.
For example, your calendar can list each hour of the day, beginning at whatever time your day begins - devoting a line or section for each hour.
If it is easier, you can block off sections of each day.
For example: 8:00 am - 10:00 am; 10:00 am - Noon; Noon - 2:00 pm, etc.
Starting with where you are today, look at the fresh calendar, and compare the days against your family calendar.
Now, on your new calendar, "X out" the parts of each day when something is already scheduled - or when you know there are time commitments (for example, errands, meetings, dinner, getting the kids to bed, etc.
).
Or, you can shade these times in with a pencil.
Whatever works best for you.
These shaded or "X'd out" blocks of time indicate when you cannot do anything extra.
This is when you are already committed to your job as a full-time parent.
When you are done, you should see various unmarked areas where blocks of free time exist.
For example, perhaps there is a regular block of time when your child is at toddler time (assuming you are not doing other errands at that time).
Perhaps Sunday afternoons are open.
Or, you may be free from 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm on a few evenings.
You may notice that you typically watch television at certain times that you could devote to your business instead.
The point is that you want to see when it might be feasible to work a part-time opportunity.
It makes no sense to look at an opportunity if you cannot foresee fitting in the time necessary to do the work.
Many legitimate home based businesses typically require anywhere from 5-10 hours per week of dedicated effort.
So, you need to determine if you can actually dedicate this time.
It doesn't have to be the same 5-10 hours each week - but the hours themselves have to be available if you are going to build a successful business.
If anyone tells you that their opportunity "runs on autopilot" and you don't need to spend any time at it, they are flat-out lying to you.
No business runs on autopilot.
Every business requires time and effort.
This is why it is very important to determine, right at the get-go, whether or not you have time to devote to the effort.
Just as your little one needs diaper changes and cuddles on a regular basis, your business needs attention on a regular basis as well.
You cannot spend an hour placing a one-time advertisement and expect your business to flourish.
You must attend to your marketing efforts again, and again, and again.
So, what's the bottom line? Simply this: Can you find 5-10 hours per week to devote to earning money from home? Do you have the persistence and determination to follow through with your commitment? If so, you are a good candidate for a legitimate home based business opportunity.
Start with the calendar exercise we just reviewed.
At least you'll see where your time goes every week!
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