Homemaking and running a business
Recently, we were discussing balancing family, homemaking, and running a business on the Merchant Maiden yahoo group. This is something which is very near and dear to my heart and I wrote up the following response from my perspective as to what works for me. I wasn't planning to post it on my blog, but an older woman who I highly respect asked me to do so, so here you go:
First off, yes, Biblical Womanhood is a part of our life and it definitely takes some time, thought, and effort, but it's not my life. And that's exactly how I want it to be. I have purposely put a lot of boundaries in place so that it doesn't take over our lives. My relationship with the Lord, with my husband, and with my children comes first and foremost. I am a child of God, a wife, a mother, and a homemaker much more than I am a "businesswoman."
Just keeping this mindset makes a huge difference in my life, my priorities, and the running of the business itself. Unless of some emergency or crisis deadline (which I try to avoid at all costs), my family always, always comes first. This means email doesn't always get answered in the timeliest manner, orders don't always ship out as quickly as other companies do, and we run at a pretty slow pace when it comes to getting new products out or produced ourselves.
My goal is not to become a huge company, but to do what I can with the time God has given me after the needs of my family and home are met. This is what my husband desires of me and so I am pleasing him in running Biblical Womanhood. He knows that if at any time he feels the business is taking too much or causing me to neglect other things, it goes or gets scaled back. And that's that.
I think there are seasons in one's life. When we started the business, I had more time to devote to it. My time to devote to it is less now (and I'm presuming it will continue to lessen as more children come along!) and we've done a lot in the last year to make things more efficient so that the business practically "runs itself." To some, it may seem that I'm spending hours a day running our business. Every once in a blue moon, I will devote a larger chunk of a day to finishing up some larger project, but that is rare. Most days, I spend around 45 minutes in the morning on business stuff (after my husband is gone to work and my daughter is still asleep) and then I devote maybe an hour (or two, at the most) during naptimes to it as well. Some days, I do basically nothing at all. Evenings and weekends, the computer is usually off and I rarely do much of anything business-related in the evenings or on Saturdays and never on Sundays. These are boundaries we've put in place to keep things in check.
I also am quite organized (though definitely not as organized as some!) and efficient. I work very fast. I type fast, I write fast, I think fast. I don't dawdle. When I'm working on business stuff, I usually go as fast as I can without being sloppy. I don't have time to waste.
Another big thing is that I say "no" - all the time. I'm really selective as far as what business things I will do and try hard not to bite off more than I can chew. For instance, I get asked to write things for various publications or be involved in different things. While these things might be great for the business, I rarely accept unless it's something I know I can easily take on. Learning to say "no" and let it go has helped me tremendously. I also do very little promotion and keep sales that I run very simple. If it's not simple, I don't do it.
There are all kinds of things I'd love to do with our business, but I realize there are also seasons for that. This year, I set very few business goals, besides maintaining the business. We decided against doing any booths at conferences and to be very selective in committing to anything. I'm having a baby this Summer, Lord-willing, and I want to just enjoy that and be well-prepared for that instead of stressing out over all these business commitments.
Anyway, just some scattered thoughts. not sure if it was helpful to anyone but it is some things I've learned - mostly through error - and hope I can encourage others not to make the same mistakes as me!
posted by Crystal Paine at 12:00 PM
6 Comments:
Hi Crystal,
It is always an encouragement to hear what works well for others that operate a business.
One of the most helpful things I've learned from you about balance is keeping the computer off on Sunday. While I occasionally turn it on to read or research something, no business works gets done on Sunday. It was such a help to start doing this!
Take Care,
Trixie
Hearing how others can combine their home and work is very near and dear to my heart. I have been struggling with balance ever since I began working at home. Thanks for sharing! Blessings!
You have a real good stronghold on balancing your relationship with the Lord, your hubby, children and home. I don't think you have to change anything. :)
I am a stay at home wife (no kiddos yet as we are struggling with infertility) and recently began selling on EBAY just to bring in some extra cash into our savings as DH is getting out of the Army next year and we are moving into "real life" LOL. I have made well over $300 in the past 9 weeks in sales, so I hope it continues...It's not a real job bringing in a thousand a month but it something and I enjoy doing it without jepordizing the Word of God.
Bless you Sister!!!
Thank you, thank you so much for your thoughts on the topic of running a business from home. I needed that encouragement today dear sister. My priority is to always keep my Heavenly Father, wonderful husband, precious daughters, and lovely home in that order. Then comes business, ministry, and all other activities (volunteering, church, military things, etc.) outside the home. I struggle with this often, but have gotten much more disciplined since giving my husband full control in this area. I write, speak, blog, do various other promotional things, host conferences, etc. only when it’s healthy for our family and under my husband’s blessing. I have cut way back due to God’s direction and the birth of our second baby girl. I continue to look for ways to keep the main thing, the main thing… my husband and I have set up internet time standards and I only take speaking engagements outside the home once every few months. Again, thank you for your continued example and encouraging thoughts Crystal.
Thanks for this post. I am currently putting together my own online business, and have often wondered what it will look like once I have the business up and running, and a toddler and newborn in the house. I am so glad that my husband also oversees the things that I take on and is willing to tell me honestly if something is just too much or hindering my other responsibilities, and I trust he will do the same with the business.
I admire the priorities and restrictions that you have set, in order to keep yourself focused on your family first. That is my desire as well. Thanks for giving me some food for thought today. :)
Stephanie
Mom to one sweet dd and one baby due in 11 weeks!
i've written alot about starting our business... a bed and breakfast... and as I say... G-d's bed and breakfast. Trust in the L-rd with all your heart.. it'll take you anywhere
See u friday :)
GP in Montana
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