www.citylocal.co.uk started this topic @ 14:24 on 05/01/2008
The modern successful business woman faces a dilemma when a baby arrives on the scene especially if it is unexpected. Can they manage to juggle work and business with babies?
The great thing about modern technology is that most business tasks can now be done online and on the phone. This means that business women can keep working from the office and nearer the time of giving birth, from home, until the last few days before giving birth!
Business women on average tend to take less time off when a baby arrives on the scene compared to women in employment. It can be easier dealing with the requirements of a child and juggling work for women who are their own boss as they do not have to deal with the prejudices of their employer.
It is critical that some home help is arranged quickly otherwise both mum and child could be affected. Busy mums will not just have to take care of business as usual but also recover from the child birth experience.
For business women finding good childcare is essential if they are to continue working productively after their child is born. This does not necessarily mean that the baby has to left at a day care during the day.
It could simply mean having someone reliable coming to the family home for five or six critical hours every day. This then means that mum can focus on business completely during that time & / or just catch up with some rest.
Power naps can be very useful for mothers trying to cope with lack of sleep. Some people believe that for this to be successful you actually need to be able to fall asleep. This is not really the case as long as you get a rest for a little time during the day where you can let your mind wander without being disturbed in a calming environment.
Some women do feel guilty that they are not around to take care of all the needs of the baby. They shouldn't really as babies are more concerned about quality time than the actual numbers of hours spent. Bear in mind that most newborns sleep sixteen to twenty hours a day and do not even realise that mum is missing.
What about if they have decided to breast feed? Modern breast pumps are very good and milk can be saved for later if mum has to attend a business meeting or is unavailable. This means that it is still possible to completely breast feed whilst running a business.
In some ways the arrival of a baby can serve to motivate the mother even further to achieve more in business now that they are not just working for themselves…
Some people will argue that it is not possible to juggle a business and still rear a newborn child successfully. I tend to disagree. Nothing could serve to make an ambitious female entrepreneur unhappy and suffer from post natal depression more than an enforced period of absence from the very business that drives them.
Have you had a child and had to work or run a business before & during the first year after birth? How did you cope? What issues did you face?
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Naz
RE: Female Entrepreneurs, Business & Babies…
Michaelbarr | 05/01/2008 09:46 PM
I have researched this topic alot recently. I think that the risk involved of running a new business and starting a family is a risk many female entrepreneurs are not willing to take, they may not wish to have a family whilst the business is young or vice versa because unless a steady income stream is recieved from elsewhere then is taking the risk on not being able to feed and clothe the baby a risk anyone would take? The classic answer is yes, because entreprenuers are born risk-takers but reality can prove otherwise.
Anyway, I am male so cannot really answer this question but I would like to hear the respone!
RE: Female Entrepreneurs, Business & Babies…
www.citylocal.co.uk | 06/01/2008 03:30 PM
Hi Michael,
Thanks for your interesting comment.
Your reply could possibly be true for countless women but there are some women that possess a fire in their belly for doing "stuff". If that fire is allowed to be extinguished then "that woman" ceases being true to herself.
I wrote this blog for "that woman" to show that it is still possible to an entrepreneur and look after your children.
I am also male but I have some female friends that possess entrepreneurial genes.
It would be interesting to hear their view points,
Happy New Year,
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Naz
RE: Female Entrepreneurs, Business & Babies…
Michaelbarr | 06/01/2008 08:49 PM
I would also agree with you thier Naz, the entreprenurial vibe is not one that will just dissapear. If ur female friends own their own businesses, I would love to hear from them to aide my research.
Michael
RE: Female Entrepreneurs, Business & Babies…
hayleycooper1985 | 27/02/2008 10:12 PM
Hi
If you are a female entrepreneur please could you take a moment to read this.
As an undergraduate student at Bournemouth University studying BA (Hons) Business Studies, I am currently doing my dissertation on why there are proportionately less female entrepreneurs than male. It is important to address this issue because an increase in female entrepreneurs will create more jobs and improve our economy, it may be that due to the different traits of the sexes, females can bring certain qualities to a business that males cannot. As a result of this study I hope to create recommendations to reduce this disproportion and advice to help women succeed.
As a female entrepreneur I was hoping you could assist with my research by answering a quick questionnaire on your experiences, if so please email me on hayleycooper1985@hotmail.com and I will reply with the questionnaire, or just post your email address and I will respond directly.
If you would like a summary of the research findings then please provide your email or postal address. If you have any queries you would like to discuss please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thank you
Hayley Cooper
RE: Female Entrepreneurs, Business & Babies…
emilyemily | 29/02/2008 09:43 PM
Hi everyone,
As a female entrepreneur who gave birth to three children whilst in the crucial first four years of setting up a business, I'd have to say that I agree with both sides - that the entrepreneurial spirit does not disappear, but that women are loath to put their new family at risk by creating financial instability. In my case, I ensured that we were as well set up as possible before starting the business, and have taken very measured risks ever since. The upshot of this is that my business is probably not as profitable as it could be, but has been built in a stable and sustainable way. As Naz says, I feel the need to have a life that is built both around and away from my children, and it has involved compromises and a lot of hard work, but ultimately I am a lot happier for it.
Emily.