Blog

Imagine, for a moment, that you have an awesome new idea for a business. You decide the concept is too good not to pursue, so you decide to give up your current pursuits and embark on developing your new company.

What do you do?

Well, first you develop your idea. You write down your goals and the steps you need to take to get the venture going. You determine your start-up costs, create a budget, and search for sources to fund your venture. You create a mission statement. You write your business plan. You consult experts to gain the financial, insurance, and legal issues of your endeavors. You consider your overall package in terms of marketing and networking. You establish business hours. You acquire the tools and office equipment to set up your work environment. And, after you have taken all of these steps, you open for business.

Have you ever thought about how employing the same steps to setting up a business would also be beneficial for setting up our homes?

Think about it. As a mother, we have a multitude of responsibilities: tending to the physical, mental, and spiritual health of our children; planning and shopping for meals; cleaning, organizing, and decorating our homes; scheduling and planning for events, holidays, and appointments; providing transportation services; assisting at school, church, or other community functions; managing the household budget and paying bills; caring for the family’s clothing; and a plethora of other duties too numerous to mention. Our homes are mini-corporations; our “product” is a healthy, well-adjusted family.

And yet, most of the time, mothers are flying by the seat of their pants, so to speak. Issues are dealt with as they approach critical mass. Clothes are washed hours before they are needed. Women agree to do volunteer work for one organization, forgetting that they are already committed for the same time to do something else. The family will spend a couple of days frantically cleaning before company comes over. The tool for a job is missing because belongings are not organized, and it becomes faster and easier to go out and buy another one rather than searching for the missing one. Multiple errands to the market are made during the week because something is forgotten on each trip.

Women are heard to say all the time, “I need to get organized.” But, really, women need to do more than just get organized—they need to change their mental approach to their work so they can determine their organizational needs.

It isn’t cold or callous to think of operating your home as a personal business. While, certainly, there are particular qualities of family life that cannot compare to a business—for instance, your job is a 24/7 operation, mothers do not have a “quitting time,” and the customers you serve are the people you love most and are dependent upon you for their needs and well-being—the overall management of a home has the same requirements of any successful corporation.

Mom managers need to put “getting organized” into perspective in order to make “getting organized” work. How can we do that?

1. Take the time to plan. You cannot get yourself or your household organized in a matter of hours. You need to devote the time to getting your company in order. If you were starting a new business, you would ask for people (spouse, extended family, or a babysitter) to watch your children while you work, or get up early/stay up late to get your planning finished; why not do so while you create a plan for your family? Don’t expect to get all your planning accomplished in one sitting; just as it takes weeks or months to organize a business, it can take weeks or months to organize your family. That’s perfectly okay!

2. Start with a solid financial and legal plan. Money may not buy happiness, the ultimate goal of any family; however, it is a necessary tool to provide for our basic needs. Evaluate the needs of your household corporation and create a realistic budget. Consider needs versus wants, and create a plan to obtain them incrementally. Review your legal and insurance needs. Are your wills up to date? Is it time to review your homeowners’ and life insurance coverage? Do you need to make any changes to your medical and dental insurance plans? Do you have a secure place to keep all of your legal documents—insurance policies, social security cards, investment paperwork, etc.? Just as a business needs to be prepared for liabilities and protect itself against the unexpected, so does the family.

3. Create a household plan. Approach your family plan like a business plan: think of the goals, both short-term and long-term, for your family, and create a plan to achieve those goals. Make a plan of how to reach your goals. Create categories of your home (i.e. budget, meal planning, etc.) and create a plan for operating each area. Consult books and websites that offer organizing advice to find ideas and inspiration in creating a plan that works for your family.

4. Get the tools you need to do the job. For instance, for cleaning your house, think about the tools a cleaning service would bring to your home,and set up a cleaning kit to do the job. Get a planner that suits your needs and personality, whether it be a paper planner or an electronic device. It is financially prudent to spend the money on items that make you more efficient at your work, as you will save both time and money in the future. Evaluate your needs and acquire the right tools.

5. Look and act like a professional. This is one of the most difficult things for a mother to do. While, certainly, a person’s character is far more important than appearances, how we treat ourselves sets the tone for how others treat us. Yes, it’s tough some days to get that shower or sit down to eat a meal, but it is important to do so for your physical and mental well-being. Self respect is not selfish! Think of the role model you are for your children; if you are not treating yourself with respect, why should anyone else? And, remember, “appearances” are not limited to how you look physically, but how you project yourself. Never act ashamed of being a mother, or tell others you are “just a mom;” you are a career woman who works hard doing the most important job in the world. Speak of your work with pride, and politely and respectfully refuse to let others put your work down!

6. This also goes along with number five, above. No business can succeed if its CEO is mentally and physically exhausted, and doesn’t have the tools she needs to do her job. Create a routine that includes personal care such as showers, manicures/etc. (they can be done at home inexpensively, or make appointments to get them done), and exercise. Plan out your wardrobe, and dress with self-respect; you don’t need to spend a lot of money to look put-together. And get business cards—cards with your contact information to give to people you meet at schools, places of worship, etc. A contact card is a very practical tool—it’s much better than finding a scrap paper or receipt in your purse on which to scribble information.

7. When making a plan for your household business, make a plan for yourself.  While society sadly often ignores the value and skills mothers possess, that doesn’t mean that mothers should dismiss it, too. Mothers are the best organizers, the most creative thinkers, the most flexible operators, and the most dedicated workers. So give yourselves the time and tools you need to get your goals accomplished. You and your family deserve it.

If you would like further information and guidance in learning how to operate your home like a small business, the perfect place to start is by completing a Family Manager Makeover, where you will get a personalized assessment of your needs and desires for your home.  You will get specific solutions to your common stressors, struggles and frustrations.  Learn more on how you can get your own Family Manager Makeover today!